SHADES OF MORNING
By Marlo Schalesky
Published by Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishers
Shades of Morning is Marlo’s third “Love Story with a Twist” (think a Nicolas Sparks type love story with an M. Night Shyamalan type twist!).
A BIT ABOUT THE BOOK:
Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church - they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness. Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome - and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned. As Emmit—and Taylor—work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?
FROM ROMANTIC TIMES:
Top Pick! 4 ½ Stars! “Schalesky has a knack for weaving a surprising spiritual twist into her tales. The touching plot will make readers examine how they deal with past regrets, and how God moves them through it. A not-to-be-missed, stunning novel!”
A BIT ABOUT MARLO:
Marlo Schalesky is the award winning author of numerous books, including her latest novel Shades of Morning, which combines a love story with a surprise ending twist. Marlo’s other books include the Christy Award winning Beyond the Night, and its sequel If Tomorrow Never Comes. Marlo is also the author of nearly 700 articles, the mother of 5 young children, and holds her Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. When she’s not changing diapers, doing laundry, or writing books, Marlo loves sipping Starbucks white mochas, reading the New Testament in Greek, and talking about finding the deep places of God in everyday life.
FIND OUT MORE:
www.marloschalesky.com/fiction
www.facebook.com/MarloSchalesky

Labels: christian author, interview, Marlo Schalesky, pets

Not floating away in the flood, as this Elvis pic that a friend sent me from the Nashville floods. And not sunning myself in a lounge chair reading a fabulous book as this adorable pic of Martha Ramirez's niece. But I've been snowed under. Not literally. It is after all May. But just saying May should explain things. With two out of town graduations, two books that I'm writing, a family wedding, company, dance recital, voice/piano recitals, well…that's where I've been. I've managed to keep up with my writing but a few things fell by the wayside. I'm sorry. Working to catch back up. But warning…family reunion is coming and then a research trip to Lancaster, PA. Can't wait for that! And I'll take plenty of pics to share here. So in the mean time, please forgive me.

I hate to admit this, but there have been times in my life when I have strayed from the path I knew I should take. Why? Stubborness? Rebelliousness? Probably. Hard lessons I had to learn. And all the while, Jesus softly and tenderly called to me to return to Him. Have you been ignoring His call?

Softy and Tenderly
Will L. Thompson, 1880

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary,
Come home;
Earnestly, tenderly,
Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

Time is now fleeting,
The moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering,
Deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Oh, for the wonderful
love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned,
He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary,
Come home;
Earnestly, tenderly,
Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Please welcome my sweet friend, Rachel Hauck and her dog, Lola, today!

Le: What is your favorite kind of a pet? Dog, cat, guinea pig? And why?

RH: Dogs! I love, love dogs. Mostly because I grew up with them, and have had four since my husband and I got married. But I think if I’d had a horse my answer might be different. I like animals that can “relate” to me. Like, my dog is voice trained so it’s like having a kid. Only she doesn’t talk back. ;)

Le: Doesn’t talk back? Wow, I like that. My sister had a Siberian Husky and she definitely talked back. My Hilo Monster does too. Maybe it’s all in the training. ;) How many pets do you have today?

RH: We have a mini Schnauzer and an 18 year old cat. We love him, too. He’s out lived three other dogs. He’s king of the house.

Le: Wow! 18 years. That must be more than 9 lives, huh? Have you ever rescued an animal?

RH: I kind of rescued our dog Pal, a Sheltie-Beagle mix. Our friends had him from puppyhood, but they were not pet people. So my husband and I took him in. After all, our dog Jack was his dad. A-hem. But we didn’t want two dogs and I thought I’d find a good home for him. Never, ever, ever put an ad in the paper, “free dog.” All the weirdos come out of the wood work. Lesson learned. I rescued Pal from that situation a few days after I gave him away. We did have a few more responses to the ad that sounded like really good families, but I couldn’t bear to give him away again. He died a month before his 10th birthday.

Our Schnauzer I kind of rescued. I found her walking down the road. A few days later, the owner responded to my “found dog” ad in the paper and gave her to me.

Le: Oh, how sweet! Do you ever incorporate animals into your novels?

RH: Yes! There’s a dog in The Sweet By and By who I just loved.

Le: I can’t wait to read that book! What was your favorite character animal?

RH: Bugs Bunny. Hobbs.

Le: My kids love Hobbs too. Has one of your own pets been the inspiration for a pet/character in a novel?

RH: Not really. I suppose the dog in the Sweet By and By is a combination of all my dogs.

Le: Gotta use those experiences, don’t we? What is the funniest thing you’ve seen one of your animals do?

RH: The list is long and varied, enhanced by the fact my husband and I picked up a trait of my brothers: talking for the animals. We’ve had some fall down laughs talking for our cat, then watching the cat “do” what we “said” he was doing.

The funniest thing though was with our cat and our Sheltie, Blue. One week we noticed Blue hanging back when it was bed time. He wasn’t crossing the living room into our bed room. We’d call him and he wouldn’t come. Finally, one night my husband decided to walk him to our room. As Blue passed by the darkened dining room, Red the cat (yeah, we know, Red the cat and Blue the dog, but my parents named the dog) jumps out of the shadows, paws waving, attacking the dog.

Blue darts into our room, growling, and jumps on the bed. Red, casually, oh so casually walks in as if he had NO idea what was going on. He sat at the foot of the bed catatonic. Suddenly, he jumps up and whaps the bed right by Blue with his paw. “Wam! Wam! Wam!”

Oh, it was so funny. He was intentionally hiding from Blue, leaping out to spook him, then taunting him.

Le: That’s hilarious. Love it! Is there a secret that only our pet knows?

RH: They know nothing!

Le: Hmmm. Sounds like they know a lot. Can’t wait to talk to Lola. ;) What is your pet’s pet peeve about you?

RH: What? They adore me!

Le: What is your pet peeve about your pet?

RH: The cat comes in my office every night and meows really, really loud. It’s really nerve wracking when I’m on deadline.

Le: I bet. Those kind of yowls can go right to the base of the spine, can’t they?
Thank you so much, Rachel, for taking the time to be with us! Now, I’d love to ask your pet, Lola, a few questions. Don’t forget to give your sweet pet a treat afterwards. ☺

Le: Hi, Lola! So good to have you here today. What would be the title of your autobiography?

RH: My Mom is the gweatest!

Le: Ah, I love to hear that! If you were to write a novel, would your friend inspire one of the characters?

RH: She would be the kind Queen of the Universe.

Le: Rachel is one of the nicest people I know. What’s your favorite movie?

RH: Hm, we don’t watch many movies but I wuv the dog Eddie on Frawsier.

Le: Oh, yeah. Frasier is a hoot! What musical instrument would you like to play?

RH: I’m a singer. Ooowwwwwllll

Le: And quite a lovely voice you have! You should help Rachel with worship. What do you think about cats? Dogs?

RH: Dis is Lola, da dog. Cats bug me. Dogs annoy me. I wuv peoples.

Le: And peoples wuv you. Where do you sleep at night?

RH: Between my parwents.

Le: A very good place indeed! What do you do when your friend is writing?

RH: Sleep at her feet. She needs me.

Le: I’m sure she does! I bet you’re good at brainstorming. What is your idea of bliss?

RH: Widing in the car wif my mom to McDonalds. Especially of the top is down.

Le: Does she give you any fries? She should. ☺ What is your friend’s idea of bliss?

RH: Same as mine of course.

Le: Thank you so much for being with us today! You take care of your friend, Rachel, now, ya hear?

RH: Thanks for having us!!

Le: My pleasure, Rachel! And Lola too!

Labels: christian author, interview, pets, Rachel Hauck

This weekend was filled with a graduation as my niece graduated from Texas Tech University and also my children's piano and voice recital. Both events showed what hard work can accomplish. When I'm in the nitty-gritty of a project, it seems like I'll never get to the end of that long, arduous road. But watching the young children who have been learning piano, sitting in front of a keyboard five days a week for a whole year, it showed me what can be accomplished in just a few minutes a day. Pushing forward day by day is not always easy but that's what the Bible encourages us to do when Paul tells us to run the race set before us. There's no sitting down in a race. No time to take a break. Keep pushing forward…you will get to the end of the race and be able to look back then and see what you have accomplished with the Lord's help.

What are you working on that is taking patience and diligence?

This month is full of graduations and weddings. School years are ending. Summer is beginning. It all means CHANGE. Now, change to some folks is good. But others see change as painful, difficult, scary.

When my son was a toddler, I would change his crib sheets or later his toddler bed sheets, and every time I did he would scream and cry, painful wracking sobs. This was a child who did not like change. When I was a kid I moved my furniture in my room weekly. I was a kid that looked forward to change. When my husband and I dated, he decided we would not eat at the same restaurant twice for an entire year. I'm not sure I was fully on board with that change. Probably because he decided it. But that's a whole other issue. Still, it was good trying new things. But at times I wanted cheese enchiladas from my favorite restaurant. So then that made the no-restaurant-twice-pact a bit annoying.

With all these graduations lately though, change has taken on a little bit different meaning for me. My nieces are grown. My kids are rapidly growing up. And I'm getting old. Okay, old-er. So maybe change isn't as appealing as it once was. But how do you like change? Do you see it as positive and exciting or the exact opposite?

Almost Forever
by Deborah Raney
A Hanover Falls Novel
from Howard/Simon & Schuster

Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear. but could it also set her free?

Volunteer Bryn Hennesey was there at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter the night five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam.

Now a terrifying absence of memory has her wondering if she might, in some way, be responsible. Garrett Edmonds' wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. He was supposed to protect the woman he loved.now she's the one who's died a hero. How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss? And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer...

Deborah Raney books always captivate me! Almost Forever is a beautifully written and enthralling read. It made my heart sing, dance, cry, and turn more than a few flips!
~CindyWoodsmall, New York Times best-selling author


As a fan of the very talented Deborah Raney, I expected a great read and I got it in the richly emotional Almost Forever, a story of faith, forgiveness and redemption. It began with a gripping scene and proceeded to hold me enthralled to the end. Don't miss this one!
~Karen Young, author of Missing Max and Blood Bayou

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her 20th novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Almost Forever, first in her new Hanover Falls Novels series, will release in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four grown children and two precious grandsons, all of whom live much too far away.

Visit Deb on the web at www.deborahraney.com
Order her books here: http://snipurl.com/raneybooks

Hi, y'all! Sorry I haven't blogged in a couple of days. I was out of town and fell behind, then fell sick. But I'm better now and so excited to have Robin Lee Hatcher here with us today! And also, her adorable dog, Poppet! Please help me welcome them!

Le: Hi, Robin! Thanks so much for being here today! What is your favorite kind of a pet? Dog, cat, guinea pig? And why?

RLH: I have owned lots of different kinds of pets (dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, parakeet). I like most animals, although I prefer to keep a distance from snakes and mice. But if forced to choose just one favorite kind of pet, I guess I would have to go with dogs because they truly want their humans’ company. As much as I like cats, they are often perfectly content to never see their humans, as long as they have food and water.

Le: That is so true. How many pets do you have today?

RLH: Just one.

Le: Have you ever rescued an animal?

RLH: Yes, a number of my pets over the years have come from the local shelter.

Le: Do you ever incorporate animals into your novels?

RLH: Frequently. Dogs, cats, and horses mostly. And one of my dogs was included on the cover of one of my books , and that really endeared that cover to me.

Le: I bet! How wonderful! What was your favorite character animal?

RLH: LOL! I’m laughing because in my second book, the reader is put into the POV of a wild stallion. Had to love that, especially now that I see it as a “slight” POV problem. I suppose that my favorite animal character would have to be the Irish wolfhound “puppy” named Joker in my historical, When Love Blooms.

Le: I think we’ve all got things like that in our earlier novels. ☺ Has one of your own pets been the inspiration for a pet/character in a novel?

RLH: Yes, my border collie Misty was the inspiration for the dog in Dear Lady.

Le: What is the funniest thing you’ve seen one of your animals do?

RLH: Sometimes Poppet will get all wound up with excitement and will race around the house, hopping onto the sofa and then down the hall and then looping back to do it all over again. In my previous home, she could run a full circle going from room to room (living room, hall, kitchen, dining room, living room). She runs as fast and low to the ground as a rabbit or a fox. She’ll run like crazy until she’s exhausted and lays down.

Le: Ah, that’s so cute! Is there a secret that only Poppet knows?

RLH: Maybe she’s the only one who knows if I snore since she sleeps with me?

Le: I love her name by the way. What is Poppet’s pet peeve about you?

RLH: That I don’t just drop everything to play with her when she wants to.

Le: What is your pet peeve about your Poppet?

RLH: She loves to bark at any activity going on outside (people walking or talking, car doors closing, UPS or FedEx trucks, the mailman, other animals). And her bark has a very high pitch to it, so it hurts the ears.

Le: I can understand that! I have three that bark at everything. Even butterflies. Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us! Now, I’d love to ask Poppet a few questions. Don’t forget to give your sweet pet a treat afterwards. ☺

Le: Hi, Poppet! You are so cute! Come here and let’s talk. What would be the title of your autobiography?

P: SHE’S SO CUTE! Because that’s what everyone said when they met me as a puppy and lots of humans still say when they see me today.

Le: It is very fitting indeed! If you were to write a novel, would Robin inspire one of the characters?

P: Sure. My human is my best friend.

Le: That’s so sweet! What’s your favorite movie?

P: My Dog Skip.

Le: Oh, that’s a good one! What musical instrument would you like to play?

P: Drums. They’d go nice with my barking.

Le: Ah-ha! You like to make some noise, don’t you? What do you think about cats? Dogs?

P: Cats should not be allowed to tease and torture me from the other side of my fenced yard. If I could get to them, I’d teach them that.

Dogs are usually okay, as long as they understand I’m the alpha female in the neighborhood and should be obeyed at all times.

Le: Of course! Where do you sleep at night?

P: In my human’s bed, against her hip while she’s reading, then I move over to my own space when it’s time to sleep.

Le: What do you do when Robin is writing?

P: Usually I lay on the floor nearby.

Le: What is your idea of bliss?

P: Chasing the Frisbee or tennis ball in the backyard.

Le: What is Robin’s idea of bliss?

P: Being with her kids and grandkids and other family members.

Le: I’m sure being with you brings her bliss too. You’re a cutie! Thanks for being with us today! You take care of Robin now, ya hear?

Labels: christian author, interview, pet, Robin Lee Hatcher

I’ve been thinking a lot about blood recently. I know, kinda weird. Part of it comes with the territory of writing an Amish/vampire story. With vampires, you have to deal with blood. One reason I think this is such a powerful spiritual story is because blood is used in scripture. A lot. There is power in the blood. Jesus’ blood. He shed his blood for you and me, for our sins, so that we might be washed free, cleansed of our sins. I love this old hymn.

Power in the Blood
By Lewis E. Jones
1899

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood,
Pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

This week I'm pleased to welcome Deborah Raney and her adorable cat, Biscuit!

Le: Hi, Deborah! Thank you so much for stopping by today with Biscuit! What is your favorite kind of a pet? Dog, cat, guinea pig? And why?

DR: I love cats because they are so independent––like a well-behaved teenager, and because they add such warmth and personality to a home.

Le: How many pets do you have today?

DR: We have three cats in the yard: Frosty, Biscuit and Sundae.

Le: Have you ever rescued an animal?

DR: Yes, our cat Biscuit showed up on our doorstep about 4 years ago. She presented us with 9 kittens (2 litters) that summer and fall. We kept one of the kittens, Sundae, and the others all found good homes––thanks in part to author Kim Vogel Sawyer, who adopted Maizie herself and found homes for several other of the kittens.

Le: Oh, I love that! Do you ever incorporate animals into your novels?

DR: I try to put a cat or dog in almost every book. Sometimes it just doesn’t suit my characters, but usually a pet adds a wonderful spirit to a book.

Le: What was your favorite character animal?

DR: I loved the rabbits in Watership Down, especially Hazel. My newest book has two dogs that have been adopted by homeless shelter residents. Sparky and Boss end up bringing my hero and heroine together rather delightfully, I think.

Le: That’s terrific! Makes me want to read your book even more! Although, I always want to read your novels. Has one of your own pets been the inspiration for a pet/character in a novel?

DR: I tend to write cat characters more than dogs, mostly because we are currently cat people. I grew up with a wonderful series of dogs on the farm, but haven’t owned a dog since early in our marriage.

Le: What is the funniest thing you’ve seen one of your animals do?
DR: We have an old black cat named Frosty and when Biscuit showed up on our doorstep, he wasn’t exactly pleased. My husband had built a large “dog” house on the back deck, but Frosty refused to share with Biscuit. When Biscuit was about to give birth to her kittens, we set up a makeshift shelter for her (built from Styrofoam coolers). One day that March, I went out to the deck and discovered Frosty in the Styrofoam hut. Sure enough, Biscuit was in the doghouse with newborn kittens!! I have no idea how that all went down––either Frosty is more of a gentleman than we knew, or Biscuit put her foot down.

Le: Good for her! That’s hilarious! Is there a secret that only your pet knows?

DR: See above. ☺

Le: I like that. Maybe Biscuit will share later. ☺ What is your pet’s pet peeve about you?

DR: That we don’t let them in the house more often. They have all the comforts of home…a beautiful fenced garden, a cat door offering free reign of the house. But they prefer the kitchen.

Le: My cat likes the kitchen too. I think she wants to be near us. What is your pet peeve about your pet?

DR: They shed too much!

Le: I hear ya on that one! Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us! Now, I’d love to ask your Biscuit a few questions. Don’t forget to give your sweet pet a treat afterwards. ☺

Le: Hi, Biscuit! You are so pretty! Thanks for stopping by today. Tell us, what would be the title of your autobiography?

Biscuit: Three Cats in the Yard, Life Used to Be So Hard

Le: If you were to write a novel, would your friend inspire one of the characters?

Biscuit: The brave and beautiful heroine, of course.

Le: Deborah would make a wonderful heroine! What’s your favorite movie?

Biscuit: Homeward Bound

Le: I like that one too. What musical instrument would you like to play?

Biscuit: Actually, I DO play the piano. With four paws, I can play duets single-handedly!

Le: I love it! Do you play on Deborah’s computer keyboard? My cat Miracle likes to do that sometimes. What do you think about cats? Dogs?

Biscuit: Four words: cats rule, dogs drool (that’s actually a line from my master’s next book.)

Le: Very good! My cat would agree! Where do you sleep at night?

Biscuit: On a cushion in the garage. I take catnaps on the kitchen windowsill.

Le: What do you do when your friend is writing?

Biscuit: When I was a kitten, I slept on her lap while she wrote, or on top of her manuscript. The day I tried to help her with some typing and “accidentally” erased a chapter was the day I was banned from her office.

Le: Oooh! I can understand that. Sorry, my cat would be out then too. What is your idea of bliss?

Biscuit: Licking yogurt lids.

Le: Yum! What is your friend’s idea of bliss?

Biscuit: Watching my kittens play.

Le: Ahhh. I’d like that too. Thank you so much for being with us today! You take care of your friend now, ya hear?

Labels: christian author, Deborah Raney, interview, pets

Two days before I went to Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference, I was having my regular quiet time, a part of which is reading a Psalms a day. So was it any accident that I read these verses? “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.” Psalm 133

Things like that happen to me all the time. Do they happen to you? So was that just an accident or providence?