Hey, y'all! There's a new review of Ruby's Slippers and I'm guest blogging today too.

Here's the guest post link: http://valeriecomer.com/?p=556

And the review: http://valeriecomer.com/?p=553

Drop by and say hello!

Don't you just love this cooler weather? It actually felt like winter the other day with drizzly rain and a brisk wind. Brrr. A perfect day for this recipe that I hope you'll enjoy!

Three-Bean Turkey Chili

1 lb ground turkey (sometimes I make it without the turkey)
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (about 4 ounces) chopped mild green chilies
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder

Cook turkey and onion in medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to break up meat until turkey is no longer pink. Drain; place turkey mixture into the crock pot. Add tomatoes with juice, beans, tomato sauce, chilies and chili powder; mix well. Cover; cook on High for 6 to 8 hours.

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish has been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Plain Mennonite and Old Order Amish families.

Cindy is the mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, and she and her husband reside in Georgia. Visit her Web site at www.CindyWoodsmall.com



Synopsis for The Sound of Sleigh Bells

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?



The Sound of Sleigh Bells is a heartwarming Christmas novella where lack and abundance inside an Amish community has power for good when it’s tucked inside love. Romantic Times gave The Sound of Sleigh Bells 4 ½ stars, saying ~ This is a wonderfully written, transformative story of two Amish families at Christmastime. It will bring sleigh-riding memories to life as readers vicariously join in this jolly and exciting holiday tradition.

Another gorgeous fall day deserves another yummy dinner. This is perfect for winter or when the weather begins to turn cold. Hope you enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie

2 Cans of chicken (preferably white)or you can use leftover chicken from a rotisserie chicken
All-Veg (large can – or you can add fresh veggies or frozen ones of your choice)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pie crust

Place one round of pie crust in pie dish. Mix chicken, soup and veggies. Add whatever spices you like, basil black pepper, etc… Then pour mixture into pie dish. Top with 2nd round of pie crust and pinch edges. Cut slices in the top round to release air. Place in the oven set at 375 degrees and cook until brown, about 30 minutes.

Readers of emotional dramas that are willing to explore the lies that families tell each other for protection and comfort will enjoy White Picket Fences. The novel is ideal for those who appreciate exploring questions like: what type of honesty do children need from their parents, or how can one move beyond a past that isn’t acknowledged or understood? Is there hope and forgiveness for the tragedies of our past and a way to abundant grace?



The story in a nutshell:

When her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece. Tally is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she and her family can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble.



What led you to write White Picket Fences?

Several years ago I was a court-appointed advocate for children involved in protective services. There were times when I saw that despite the outward appearance of a less-than-perfect home, a child could be loved there. Just because a parent is unconventional or unsuccessful career-wise or makes choices that buck societal norms, it doesn’t mean that he or she is by default a “bad” parent. Likewise, parents who we would traditionally call “good” -meaning they provide, they protect, they don’t hit, they don’t ridicule - can nevertheless make decisions regarding their children that have hugely negative effects and yet their outward appearance would never lead anyone to suspect it. Even if you live behind a white picket fence, you still have to deal with the fallout of a living in a broken world. You can’t hide from it. The perfect, idyllic life is an illusion. Life is a weave of both delight and disappointment and it’s precisely these things that give it definition and depth. To ignore what is ugly is to cheapen what is beautiful.



You dovetailed a current day family drama with the Holocaust and the Warsaw Ghetto. Why the connection?

I think it’s fair to say that the depth of the atrocities inflicted during the Holocaust wasn’t fully appreciated until after the war. There was ugliness happening, if you will, and much of the West failed to see it — for whatever reason. Within the horror, though, people made brave choices, selfless choices. And there were survivors who had to choose what they would take with them from the ashes of their suffering. I wanted to explore how a person makes that decision. Even the decision to pretend it never happened is a decision regarding those ashes.



What do you think interests you about the intersection of personal relationships and perceptions – a theme you wove into both The Shape of Mercy and White Picket Fences?

I see every great work of fiction being about human relationships. Gone With the Wind is so much more than just an epic story with the Civil War as a backdrop. It’s a story of human relationships. Scarlett and Ashley, Scarlett and Rhett, Scarlett and Melanie, Scarlett and her father. It’s within our closest relationships that our brightest virtues and worst flaws are exposed. That’s why there is such tremendous story value within intimate human relationships. We are at our best and our worst when we are responding and reacting to the people who shape who we are. Human history is the story of relationships and what they teach us about what we value. And what we don’t.



White Picket Fences is a different kind of novel than your acclaimed book, The Shape of Mercy, but there are some similarities too. Can you explain those?

As with The Shape of Mercy, there is a historical thread in White Picket Fences, though it is not as dominant. The invasion of Poland by the Nazis is woven into the story, and provides the backdrop for Chase’s and Tally’s discoveries about hope, dreams, and redemption. This thread is enhanced by visits to a nursing home where Chase and Tally meet a man blind from birth who survived the occupation of Poland. It is also a story that draws its pathos from family dynamics and the near-universal desire we have to make straight what is crooked. There are two young protagonists in White Picket Fences, like there was in The Shape of Mercy, as well as a third character, who, along with the two men in the nursing home, provide a similar multi-generational story thread.



What do you hope readers come away with after reading White Picket Fences?

The pivotal moment in the story for me is when Josef says to Chase: “[This] is what all survivors must decide. We have to decide how much we will choose to remember, how much courage we are willing to expend to do so.” It takes courage to acknowledge and remember what drove you to your knees or nearly killed you. If you choose to forget – and that’s assuming you actually can – then it seems to me you suffered for nothing. You are different but you don’t spend any time contemplating – or celebrating – how. I’d be happy if there was a takeaway for someone out there who needs to consider that.



My bio:

Susan Meissner is the multi-published author of The Shape of Mercy, named one of the Best Books in 2008 by Publishers Weekly the ECPA’s Fiction Book of the Year. She is also a speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. A devotee of purposeful pre-writing, Susan encourages workshop audiences to maximize writing time by mapping the writing journey and beginning from a place of intimate knowledge. She is the leader/moderator of a local writer's group, a pastor’s wife and the mother of four young adults. A native San Diegan, Susan attended Point Loma Nazarene University. When she's not writing, Susan directs the Small Groups and Connection Ministries program at The Church at Rancho Bernardo.

How do you find time to write?

With two kids, whom I homeschool, plus just the general running of a home, it’s not easy to find time. But I learned a long time ago, that you find time for what you want to find time for. I get up long before the sun thinks about rising. And please don't say I'm a morning person. I'm not. I have to train myself to get up early. And I easily fall out of that routine if given the chance. I have a quiet time, which is essential for me to quiet my spirit and chat with my creator. Then I write. I try not to get distracted by emails, Facebook, Twitter and blogs, but I need to work on that self discipline more. Usually, after the kids have finished school, they’re ready to play without me, so I write or edit, check emails or address general business stuff. If needed after dinner I can usually find another hour or two if I’m not busy taking kids to dance, soccer practice or fencing. Thankfully, I also have a very supportive family and we all work together to do chores around the house. It's always a balancing act. Every day tends to be different. Some days I get more writing done than others. I have learned to give myself a little grace each day. Most days I write in bits and spurts. It's not necessarily the easiest way to write but this is a season. Some day my kids will have gone off to college and their own lives and I'll have more time to write. So I do what I can with the time I have now.

It arrived, just as Amazon promised, yesterday afternoon! I think my kids were more excited than I was. I approached the box with trepidation. Would I be able to make this thing work? Or did I waste all that money? By the way, the price has gone down considerably. It's about $90 less than when it first came out. Within 5 minutes of getting it out of the box, plugging it in so it could charge, I was able to download my first book. What book? Well, I've been wanting to read this one for a long time--The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I think that's the title. It's a mouthful and I usually get it all mixed up. Anyhoo, after I downloaded it, I had to run the kids to some activity, so it was much later when I was able to sit down with it. It is soooooooooooooooooooooo light! By the way, I did get a cover for it. I thought it was important to help protect it. And so, I read a little before I went to bed. It's saving my place until I can get back to it...hopefully later today.

Hi, y'all! I'm blogging today over at Christian Authors Network: http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/2009/10/blurbing-your-book.html
Hope you'll drop by and say hello.

Well, I did it. I took the plunge. I bought a Kindle. It's an early birthday present for me. I've wanted one for over a year. It was extraordinary circumstances that plopped the amount of money I needed, plus Amazon’s sale price, and well, I did it! I’m so excited! I can’t wait until it arrives. I’ve been wanting one ever since the Kindle came out and writer friends have been talking about theirs. I’m sure it’ll take some getting used to. Will I have to read directions to figure it out? I’m not really a ‘read directions’ kinda gal. I like to turn on, press buttons and go. So we’ll see how all of that works. If you have any advice, please send it! I’ll let you know how I like it. I'll let you know if I'm Kindle-ing or turning the thing into kindling. ;)

With all the cool weather we've had lately, it's time to pull out that crock pot and make some yummy soup! Hope you enjoy!

Roasted Tomato-Basil Soup
2 cans (28 ounces each) peeled whole tomatoes, drained and liquid reserved
2 ½ tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons tomato paste
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
¼ cup shredded fresh basil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange tomatoes on foil in single layer. Sprinkle with brown sugar and top with onion. Bake for about 30 minutes or until tomatoes look dry and light brown. Let tomatoes cool slightly; finely chop. Place tomato mixture, 3 cups reserved liquid from tomatoes, broth, tomato paste and allspice in the crock pot. Mix well. Cover. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours.

Add evaporated milk and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook on HIGH for 30 minutes or until hot.

This weekend was great fun but very busy. It started with a banquet for the Texas Southwest Baptist Church Library Convention. What a great group! I spoke to them about ‘Author Takes a Back Seat,’ about how God pried my fingers off the steering wheel of my life so He could be in control, not me. It was also really important for me to communicate with them that a ministry is not made up of one person. First and foremost, God is in control. Besides my fabulous family who is so supportive and helpful in my writing, it takes a fabulous agent and editor encouraging and speaking the truth about my work. It takes a great group of friends and prayer partners. It also takes booksellers and librarians who place books in the hands of readers. Their job is so important and vital to writers and readers alike!

Then Saturday morning, I spoke to them about the ‘Yellow Brick Road to Publication’ utilizing the hero’s journey to not only plot a book but to view the road to publication for a writer. Have you had a ‘call to adventure?’ That might be a call to become a writer, a doctor, a missionary or a homeschooling mom. Did you refuse that call? It’s easy to do so because so often we have doubts and fears. What about a mentor? Do you know someone who’s traveled that road ahead of you and can offer advice for navigating the rocky places? There’s so much wisdom and truths in myths that speaks to us in stories and translates into our own lives.

Legacy Books in Plano held a signing authors involved in the Buns and Roses Readers’ Tea, including NY Times Best selling author, Julia Quinn. My daughter played Dorothy in her sparkly ruby slippers and handed out bookmarks for me.
Then it was time for a little family time as we watched my son win three medals in a fencing tournament. Such fun!

Sunday after church, I took part in the Buns and Roses Readers’ Tea in Richardson, TX which raises money for the Richardson Library’s literacy program. It was wonderful to witness the generosity of so many to help others learn to read.

All in all, despite being such a busy weekend, it was all great fun spending time with librarians, readers and writers. Book lovers all!

How long does it take you to write a book?

Forever. Or that’s how it feels. When I wrote category romance, I wrote much faster. Women’s fiction requires more layers, more themes and motifs, and more complex plots. It takes much longer. I’m also busier with homeschooling two kids. No two books are alike, so some take even longer than forever. Or so it seems. Honestly, it takes what it takes. I usually aim for 9 months to a year. First, I'm slow because of kid activities that I'm not willing to miss. Second, it just takes time. To some writers time seems like an enemy but it's really your friend. Give your book time to marinate, to dig deep into your characters. You will not regret it. The most amount of time I spend is on revising.

With the weather turning cooler, this seemed like a great recipe to share. Thanks, Lori Anne!

Chili-Cheese Dip (Homemade)

1 lb. of ground beef
1 - 16oz. block of Mild (or Hot) Velveeta cheese
1 - 16oz. can of Bush's Chili Beans
1 - 14.5oz. can of Mild Rotel Diced tomatoes (w/chilies)
1/2 pkg of Taco Bell taco powder
1/2 pkg of McCormick's Mild chili powder
salt & pepper to add taste

Brown your ground beef; then, drain. While beef is browning - combine cheese, beans, and tomatoes in a saucepan on low heat (otherwise the cheese will start to stick to the bottom of the pan). Once your beef is done and drained, wait until your cheese is about melted then add the beef. Stir it in really good, then add the taco & chili powders, and stir good again.

That's it! Dig in! Oh...I've discovered that Tostitos new Hint of Jalapeno chips go really well with this dip...or you can use the standard Tortilla chips.

Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day! :)

Lori Anne Smith

Some days are just ... difficult! My internet router died this weekend and I'm unable to log on at home. So I'm sitting here at Barnes and Noble doing email and catching up. Don't you love B&N! I do! So anyway, it may be a couple of days before I can get back up to blogging and catching up. Don't you love technology! When it works, it's fabulous! When it doesn't, well, we survive anyway.

Blessings,

Leanna

How did you get published?
I did something no one should do -- I quit my day job (teaching elementary school) and started writing. Well, first I took a three week camping trip to Colorado to decompress then I started writing. But I digress. I had no idea what I was doing. First person? Third? Present tense? Past? And what should it look like on the page? Single spaced? Double?

Thankfully, I took a class which really got me started. Three years and 8 books later, I sold my first book. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.

During those three years, I immersed myself in writing and reading. I joined a critique group and went to as many writers conferences as I could afford. Unfortunately, I had to do temp work for Kelly services for a while, then found a receptionist job that wasn’t too demanding. I was not very successful in writing query letters, so I entered contests.

Contests gave me a foot in the door. The first few gave me some good feedback on how to improve my writing or my synopsis. After a while, I began to final in contests, editors were requesting my work, agents began to take notice. My first book to be published, Strong, Silent Cowboy, won RWA’s Golden Heart award.

The writing road to publication is long and arduous. It takes sacrifices but it is a journey I am blessed to have taken.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a couple of days. We went to Kansas City for my husband's grandmother's funeral, and it took a couple of days and was incredibly fast and tiring. So I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. So here's a recipe (sort of) for one of our favorite things that we add to the side of dinners. I hope you enjoy!

I’m not about to tell you how to make French bread, so just go buy a skinny loaf. This probably has a fancy name but it is super easy and can really be a nice side to dinner. Slice the bread into ½ inch slices. Should be good and crunchy on the outside. Put a little olive oil on the bread then sprinkle with sea salt. Toast. Yum. You could also add a little chopped, stewed tomatoes to the top. Delicious!