LeBlog--The Blog about life…writing, raising kids, chasing dogs, handling life and all its bit parts.

April 30, 2009

 

Should we be scared? Panicked?

It's getting close to a pandemic. The swine flu, that is. I see mixed reports online. One said that WHO says there are only a handful of cases. Other reports say that there are 91 in America. A toddler died Monday night in Texas. This baby was from Mexico. What sort of unsettled me is that that toddler was hospitalized April 13. WAY before the swine flu was even discussed in the news. Which means its been going on a lot longer than we think.

Joe Biden says he wouldn't travel in planes or on subways or stay in a closed classroom. Ft. Worth schools closed until May 8th. So what's a Mom to think? What should we do? How should we protect our kids besides the washing of hands and such. Should we hunker down in our houses, knees trembling?

I definitely think we should hit our knees and pray. We should wash our hands a lot. We should not fear. For our God tells us not to be afraid. My mom went to see her oncologist yesterday and told me she has a plaque that says, "Cancer can't take one day away from you..." God has numbered your days. He has a plan for each one. And frankly, not even the swine flu can disrupt God's plans. So, don't fear, my friends. But be smart. And pray.

April 29, 2009

 

Guess what I found in the trash?!?!

As many of you know, my father passed away three weeks ago today. Still unbelievable in many ways. And still the image of the flag covered coffin is as sharp as a salute in my memory.

Yesterday I was walking my crazy 45 lb labradoodle puppy around the neighborhood. More like, she was dragging me but I digress. It was trash day, so at every house we had to avoid trash cans and bags, even the recycling bins which are open for perusal. And boy was my puppy interested in all those containers had to offer. Then I saw something which made my heart contract. A flag, rolled on a wooden pole, and tossed carelessly beside a trash can. This American flag, wounded in its annual waving for freedom's sake, lay abandoned and dirty beside a trash can, ready for pickup, to be taken to the dump.

Our flag is our symbol for freedom. My father served and fought for our liberty. Many millions of soldiers have died for Old Glory.

So I took my car and drove back to that house. I admit, I was angry. I was ready for a confrontation. And then I realized which house. I knew these people. They're strong Christians! They're conservative. They are proud Americans. What were they doing throwing out our American flag like it was a used napkin. Politely I rang their doorbell. And when the man of the house answered, I said, "Hi. How are y'all?" We chatted for a minute. Then I said, "I noticed you'd thrown out your flag. Would you mind if I took it and gave it to the military or to a Boy Scout troop? They'll dispose of it in a respectful way."

"Sure. I didn't know."

"No problem. I can take it."

His words resonated with me. I didn't know. That shocked me. How many Americans don't know that Old Glory deserves our respect? Its soaked up the life blood of our soldiers, patriots, our forefathers.

So, in case you don't know. There are rules for the handling of our flag. There are procedures for decommissioning or retiring a faded and worn flag. Please don't just toss it in the trash. So respect for Old Glory and for the men who have served, honored, fought for and died for our liberty which waves proudly from every flag pole.

Thank you.

April 28, 2009

 

One of those days

Through the grieving of my beloved grandmother, I learned that grief comes and goes. Some days are good, some not so. Today is one of those not so good ones for me. Just trying to walk through or crawl through it the best I can.

April 27, 2009

 

Fiction Monday -- Spotlight on Amy Wallace

If you love breath-stealing suspense, unforgettable characters, and remarkable

spiritual depth in your fiction, Enduring Justice is a book to

savor. Amy Wallace is at her best with this poignant, grace-filled addition

to her deeply satisfying Defenders of Hope Series.”

—CLAUDIA MAIR BURNEY, author of Wounded: A Love Story





ENDURING JUSTICE

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1601420145



Secrets Can’t Last Forever



A PAINFUL PAST



Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret has remained buried for over two decades. But when the dark shadows of her past threaten to destroy those she loves, Hanna must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories.



A RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLER



As a Crimes Against Children FBI Agent, Michael Parker knows what it means to get knocked down. Difficult cases and broken relationships have plagued his entire year. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else.



A LIFE-ALTERING CHOICE



A racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?





Q and A with author Amy Wallace



Q. Where did the idea for the stories in the DEFENDERS OF HOPE series come from?



A. The Defenders of Hope series started with a literal dream about an FBI agent with a wounded heart and a mom on a dangerous quest for answers. That dream became the book Ransomed Dreams. During the research for Ransomed Dreams, I met with a federal agent and asked the question—what would happen if an FBI agent found out he had cancer? His answer became the second book, Healing Promises. And the third book in the series, Enduring Justice, grew out of a secret one of the characters, Hanna Kessler, struggles to keep hidden.



Q. Your current release is Enduring Justice, book 3 in the Defenders of Hope series. Is it necessary to read all the books in order?



A. I’ve been told by many readers and read reviews that have said the Defenders of Hope books can be read in any order as stand-alones. The cases and suspense story-lines are self-contained, no cliffhanger endings until the next book. But the characters’ friendships and relationships grow and are challenged in each book, so I’d say it’s best but not necessary for the stories to be read in order.



Q. You’ve said that Enduring Justice contains the shards of your once-broken heart. What do you mean by that?

A. Fifteen years ago, God placed me in a safe place and used my future husband’s hands to hold me together while my heart shattered. David was the first person to hear about my being date raped when I was a teen. For five years I’d denied what happened or blamed myself. So when my walls of secrecy started to crumble, I felt alone and terrified.

But God met me there. He covered my shame with His grace and we started down the painful path of healing. Even though this isn’t the same circumstances as what Hanna Kessler faces in Enduring Justice, a lot of my personal story went into the writing. And while this subject may qualify this story as “gritty,” the focus is not on the past experiences, but on the healing an adult woman finds as she opens up to her family and the man she loves.



Q. One of the key themes running through Enduring Justice is racism, as Hanna’s love interest, FBI Agent Michael Parker, is investigating a white supremacist. Why is this topic near to your heart?

A. I grew up in the military and had friends of all skin colors and nationalities. One of my best friends was African American. We never talked about our skin color, but I remember one time she made a comment about how people treated her differently because of her skin. She wouldn’t explain. It wasn’t until years later after hearing some ugly words from extended family members about people of other skin colors that I started to understand racism still exists. And it breaks my heart.

Through Hanna and Eve and Michael and Lee, I wanted to highlight some of the challenges I’ve learned about from friends of other nationalities and also to show that it’s not skin color that matters, it’s who we are on the inside. We truly can be color-blind.

Q. Where can readers learn more about you, Enduring Justice, and your other books?

A. I enjoy and value email from readers! So please visit me on the web at the Dark Chocolate Suspense site: www.amywallace.com and leave a note in the guestbook, drop me an email, or join the Dark Chocolate Suspense newsletter community: http://www.amywallace.com/Newsletter.html.



Readers can also check out a very cool book format and read the first two chapters of Enduring Justice online: http://www.amywallace.com/ej_chapter.html

April 25, 2009

 

She ate what?

What can you do with a crazy 45 lb. puppy who counter surfs? She ate a whole stick of butter! A lube job in the making, I'm guessing. She's also eaten a whole bunch of grapes, which I just found out this week is dangerous for dogs. And she ate chili. I guess if she survived that, she can survive most anything. Or so I hope.

April 24, 2009

 

A Chance to Win $50

To celebrate, I’m running a contest to get the word out! You have the chance to win a $50 prepaid card that could be used at most grocery stores, book stores or even gas stations! Here’s the lowdown:

For bloggers: Post information on your blog about Ruby’s Slippers. I can email you the cover. Below you’ll find a catchy blurb.

For non-bloggers: Send an email to ten friends about Ruby’s Slippers. You can use the blurb below and also refer them to my website.

If you’ve read the book and post a review on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, christianbook.com, acfw.com/bookreviews.html, faithfulreader.com/wom/wom.asp or crossings.com, then I’ll enter you in the contest for each review posted.

Then let me know you’ve posted the information on your blog, sent out 10 emails or reviewed my book and I’ll put your name in a drawing for the possibility to win a $50 prepaid card. Please provide your snail mail address. The drawing will be held Mother’s Day weekend. The winner will be notified via email.

If you want to enter more than once, that’s okay! Just send out 10 more emails. If your friends want to enter, that’s okay too! Odds of winning depend on the number of entries. No purchase is necessary. And buying my book won’t increase your odds of winning (but will give me a happy smile and you some enjoyment).

Ruby’s Slippers
By Leanna Ellis
April 2009

When Dottie Meyers loses her ‘no place like home’ during a Kansas tornado, she wakes up to find a pair of ruby slippers left by her father who abandoned his family thirty years ago. With her sister hot on her trail to find the treasured ruby slippers, Dottie travels a yellow brick road with three friends to find her father. No wizard can solve her problems. Only the love of a heavenly father can heal her wounds and give her the desires of her heart.



Email me at leanna@leannaellis.com to let me know you’ve posted/emailed or if you want a .pdf file of the cover.

Link to the book trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cySRAfOdWaI

Thanks so much and best wishes!

Blessings,


Leanna

April 23, 2009

 

The Writing Diet

Yesterday, I took my kids to Barnes and Noble because they both had a gift card. I happened to see a book that grabbed my attention, The Writing Diet, by Julia Cameron. She's well known for The Artist's Way which I read eons ago. So I grabbed this new book and am enjoying it alot. I started writing morning pages this morning, trying to put down my thoughts and feelings about this year so far and dealing with my dad's death. A long time ago, I wrote in a journal. It's why my sister suggested I start writing. Which I did. But along the way, I dropped my journal because I was focused on fiction writing. Well, I have a feeling I need to journal a bit and that it'll be healing. How many of you journal on a regular basis?

April 21, 2009

 

Back in the Saddle

After a couple of weeks off dealing with family issues and grieving my father, I'm getting back in the groove this week, working on my next book for B&H Publishing. I'm a little behind on blogging and emails and writing but am trying not to stress about it. I know the grief process isn't over. There will be hard days, more tears and laughter too. It's all a part of life. Thank you for the prayers. I have treasured each email and letter.

Blessings,

Leanna

April 16, 2009

 

Tea Parties

I went to an official tea party yesterday in Southlake, Texas. Looked to be about 2,000 folks there waving flags. There were grandmas and grandpas, babies, kids, folks from all walks of life uniting together. I'm glad I went. Actually ran into a homeschooling friend who I hadn't seen in a long time.

April 14, 2009

 

Joel Wilson -- 1930-2009

April 8, 2009, my father passed away. Thankfully, I was able to be with him during his final days. He was a fighter. He had prostate cancer for 15 years. For the past few years, he endured pain in his bones where the cancer had traveled, chemo and radiation. The cancer didn't define who is was or what he did. But now, he's free of pain. He's in heaven now, sitting around with his buddies from the Spit-and-Whittle solving the world's problems. This time, with a better perspective than we have.

The last few days were very hard but also sweet as my mom, sister, two nieces and I stayed together in the hospital room holding my dad's hand, bugging the nurses with a thousand questions, stealing chairs from around the hospital so there would be plenty of seats for those visiting, and sleeping curled up in fold-out chairs together. Early Wednesday, we thought we were losing him. Together we talked to my dad, told him goodbye and tried to sing Bless Be the Ties That Bind. Our rendition must have scared him because his heartrate shot way up. I will admit, I've heard better singing from a pack of dogs. But later that morning, as my mom fixed her face in the mirror beside the bed, my dad slipped away. I saw his heart rate stop and said, "I love you, Dad," as he stepped into heaven. He will be greatly missed.

We had two services for my father, one in the small town where they live, then one in Dallas where they lived for many years. A dear family friend, Toby Snowden, who has a church south of Dallas, spoke eloquently about my father. Then the military paid final final respects at graveside with volleys fired and taps played. He would have liked that. A fitting service for a man who loved his country and served it well.

Goodbye, Daddy. See you in Heaven.

April 1, 2009

 

They're here!

They -- Ruby's Slippers. It's no joke. No April Fool's. My book officially releases today!

It's Wizard of Oz meets Cinderella story.

When Dottie Meyers loses her ‘no place like home’ during a Kansas tornado, she wakes up to find a pair of ruby slippers left by her father who abandoned his family thirty years ago. With her sister hot on her trail to find the treasured ruby slippers, Dottie travels a yellow brick road with three friends to find her father. No wizard can solve her problems. Only the love of a heavenly father can heal her wounds and give her the desires of her heart.

There’s no place like … the heart for God’s healing touch.

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