Guest Author: Bethany Kaczmarek

How Can I Get Up From Here?

I imagine there are many people who feel like Kasia Bernolak has—caught somewhere between pretending to be doing well and sitting in a corner crying. Alone.

The heroine of my book, Strains of Silence, says it’s the worst at church, when she ought to be an encouragement to others, but she’s running on empty. Add to that the pressure to be strong, to be a pastor’s daughter, or a missionary—it becomes hard to say “I’m not okay.”

And even if her mouth would willingly form the words, people don’t hear what she means. Her “I’m struggling today” gets a response like she’d just said she has the sniffles.

“Yeah, that’s going around.”

Once, she said she felt depressed, and a woman told her to focus on what was true and noble and right. [That’s not always wrong advice, but sometimes, things are happening to a person’s mind and body that make it impossible for them to think of anything except surviving. Or dying.]

The thing is, since believers are supposed to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have, we get uncomfortable when one of us says they feel hopeless.

Hear me.

First, if someone shows up and speaks honestly about struggles and pain and suffering, let’s not blow it off the table like so much dust. Let’s listen. Let’s take it in quietly, even take a moment to pray before we respond. And let’s let our first words be something along the lines of weeping with those who weep. And let’s be deeply thankful that they’ve managed to get themselves motivated enough to be around others, to speak the words that are so hard to say.

It’s so much easier to hide.

Now, for you hurting people.

Find one quiet listener. (I am one, if you live near me.)

And speak.

The.

Words.

Whisper them if you have to. Share the burden your soul carries. Share it with Jesus, and share it with someone who can be His arms and hands and feet in this world. Who can stand beside you and hug you. But break the silence. The church is full of imperfect, hurting people. And it’s okay to be real about that.

“Bear one another’s burdens…” Galatians 6:2.

About Bethany's Book:

He can’t save her from her past, but he can wait to be her future.

Music was her driving passion and the truest expression of her faith, but three months before her wedding, twenty-year-old Kasia Bernolak can’t even pick up her guitar. Feeling like a fraud who will ruin her dad’s pastoral reputation, she can barely meet his eyes. When Kasia finds the strength to break off her engagement, she still doesn’t realize the dangerous truth: Blake Hamilton isn’t ready to say goodbye. And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Alexander “Zan” Maddox has seen what a domineering man can do to an unsuspecting woman, and Zan is sick of injustice. He gave up a college baseball scholarship so he could protect his sister from her abusive husband. When he rescues Kasia from her ex-fiancé, he instinctively appoints himself her personal bodyguard. Now, all he has to do is keep from falling for her himself.

Kasia and Zan become fast friends, but true healing and justice might cost more than either of them is willing to pay.

To pre-order your copy, click here.

About Bethany:

Bethany Kaczmarek loves to share her own journey of healing and redemption with anyone who needs it. Back from the Polish mission field where she and her husband worked with college students for six years, their home is often filled with twenty-somethings who come over for a listening ear (though she’s willing to admit it could also be for the board games and food). Other job titles: Wielder of Red Pens, Grammar Ninja, Wiper of Tears and Milk, Indie Music Connoisseur, and Friend. Bethany writes about places where grit meets Grace. Find out more about her at www.bethanykaczmarek.com 

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Guest Author: Karin Beery

Identifying Your Theme 

(When You Don’t Think You Have One)

Several months ago I agreed to write this blog post, then I tucked the information away and forgot about it until a reminder popped up in my calendar. Then I looked back at my notes: something related to my manuscript’s theme.

What?

Why did I agree to this? I write romance novels. There’s no theme, they’re just romance stories.

Having already committed to the post, however, I re-evaluated my current manuscript (as well as others I’ve already completed) to see if I could find a theme. At first, I didn’t see any connections. A couple of my books have an obvious Christian theme. The rest, however, are clean reads: girl meets boy, they fall for each other, circumstances keep them apart, it works out, happily ever after. That’s not a theme, though – that’s the standard romance formula.

Are my stories theme-less?

Then I looked at the pitches I’ve written for each story, and I looked at the goals-motivations-conflicts for my heroines. That’s when I started to see the correlation. The conflicts! My leads all have something in common: the woman struggling to recover after being manipulated; the woman trying to deal with a sudden death and revelation of dishonesty; the woman who’s personal and professional lives are steeped in disappointments.

Regardless of whether or not the stories contain strong spiritual elements, they share a common theme: trust.

It’s more than simply faith in God or mankind – it’s easy to believe in a higher power or the greater good. Trust, however, requires a conscious decision to act on that faith. I hadn’t noticed it until I agreed to write this post, but trust has made its way into all of my stories.

That shouldn’t surprise me. Proverbs 3:5-6 have been guiding verses in my life for years:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. (New Living Translation)

I never thought my novels would be thematic, but it looks like they are. I didn’t want to admit to it at first, but now I’m proud of it. Trust is a foundational principle in Scripture. It’s how we’re called to act, and it’s not an easy thing to do (if it were, everyone would do it). Still, I’ve managed to incorporate it into my stories, adding a layer of complexity and relatability to my leading ladies, even if I did do it subconsciously.

About Karin:

Karin Beery – Writer. Editor. Novelist. Karin writes contemporary and speculative fiction with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s editing or writing business copy through her business Write Now Editing & Copywriting Services. And when she’s not doing either of those, she teaches – she’s currently teaching Substantive Editing for Fiction through the PEN Institute. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or at her website, www.karinbeery.com.

Guest Author: Toni Shiloh

Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)—“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Trust. It’s something that many of us deal with in our faith journey. In my novel, Finding Love, Delaney Jones is no different. Her husband died serving his country as an Army solider. Then Delaney meets one of his comrades and a spark is lit. But Luke is in the Army, doing the same job that cost her husband his life.

How can she trust that all will work out for good?

That’s probably one of the most difficult aspects in our faith journey. Often, we want a guarantee from the Lord that our life will be one of smooth sailings and sunshine. That we’ll wake up each morning with joy and ready to sing praises. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and sunshine isn’t a daily guarantee.

That’s where trust comes in. We have to trust that God is who He says He is. We have to trust that He’s never broken a promise. That He has our best interest in heart.

And man, oh man, is that hard to do. For every promise we’ve heard, we can come up with a situation where it appeared that God broke it. Yet our ways are not His ways, including our understanding. It’s why Proverbs cautions us not to look at life through our own lens. We cannot comprehend the good God wants to do in our life, especially when all we see is bad. But it takes a leap of faith.

We have to take a deep breath and make the decision to trust God. To remember all the times He came through, answered a prayer, provided for us, and loved us through our journey. If we forget those times, it’s very easy for distrust to build. Sit down daily and thank Him for the blessings He has showered upon you. Make a memory jar or list so that when times get tough—because eventually a season of trials will come—you’ll remember why He’s trustworthy.

About Finding Love:

Delaney Jones has finally started to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after the death of her husband, Parker. Just as she adjusts to a new normal, in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. When she finally makes the decision to trust him, the world deals her a heavy blow.

Sergeant First Class Luke Robinson can’t get over his part in the death of Delaney’s husband. Hoping to assuage his guilt, he offers to lend a hand. He never counted on the feelings she evokes with just a smile. Will his secrets widen the gulf, or will he finally find absolution?

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2r2NmFZ

About Toni:

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.weebly.com

Social media links:

Facebook            Google+

Pinterest             Instagram

Goodreads          Bookbub

LinkedIn

Blogs Toni participates in: 

http://puttingonthenew.com ; http://heartwingsblog.com; http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com; www.acfwvirginia.com/blog

Guest Author: Theresa Lynn Hall

Struggling with Forgiveness

As Christians, we know if we repent our sins, our God is faithful and just, and He forgives our sins. We also know we are commanded to forgive those who sin against us. If God commands us to do these things, why do we find ourselves in situations where it is so hard to forgive? Especially when the one who has hurt us doesn’t seem to care? Or apologize? Even worse is when we’re hurt by family or someone who is supposed to love and care for us. I think we’ve all been there and have had to search deep within ourselves to find the strength to move forward. Most of us only need to be hurt once to know that we don’t want to open ourselves up to that kind of hurt again. But what if we forgive only to have someone hurt us again and again? What then?

God doesn’t want us to allow people to hurt us repeatedly. Just because we’re supposed to forgive, even in the absence of an apology, it doesn’t mean people have the right to take advantage of us. Sometimes, distance along with forgiveness is the only solution. Moving on and putting certain people in our past is the only way to protect ourselves. But there are times when we can’t do that. What if you work with this person? What if they are your family? Learning to get past it and move on is often not for the one who has hurt us, it is for us. Holding on to hurt and anger will slowly tear you apart and can even pull you away from God and weaken your faith. It’s something every Christian has struggled with, no matter who you are. We all have this in common. But what if someone is not a Christian? I can’t imagine the inner struggles and heartache that non-Christians go through.

In Ransom in Rio, Lexi faces the loss of her brother and the realization of a family secret that rips her apart. Her faith is weak and she isn’t sure what she’s going to do. What she goes through is something we can all relate to in one way or another. The only answer is forgiveness, but sometimes the journey to forgiveness is a long one. One thing I know from experience is that it doesn’t happen overnight. But when you find the will to forgive, your heart will have a peace that washes over it. It will free you from the pain, hurt, and anger that weighs your heart down. If you’re struggling with forgiving someone, I pray that you will continue to seek God’s will for you and find it in your heart to let your grievances go—even if it takes time.

Colossians 3:13—Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

A Chat with Theresa:

What inspired you to write Ransom in Rio?

Pelican Book Group began a new series call Passport to Romance. They provided a list of international settings to choose from, each with a list of three things that had to be written into the book. My husband had just returned from Rio on a business trip and had brought back pictures of this beautiful place. He spent two weeks there and learned a lot about the people and their culture. His pictures and stories inspired me to choose Rio. Hopefully, I’ll get to go someday!

What household task do you most dislike? Which do you most enjoy?

I dislike doing laundry! It never ends! You can’t get caught up no matter how hard you try. I love to cook. I love spending all day making a great meal for my family. It’s hard to do while working full-time, but on weekends and holidays, I love cooking their favorite meals and spending time together around the table. Cleaning up is another story!

Please share a verse of scripture that is especially meaningful to you, and why it is special.

Philippians 4:13 —I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is my favorite verse. It hangs framed in my office and is the screen saver on my phone. I have been through some hard times, like we all have, and when I feel like I can’t go on, I recite this verse and keep it close. This verse reminds me where my strength comes from. It is only through Him that we can endure the trials of this world.

About Ransom in Rio:

Private Investigator Braden McCoy wants nothing more than to finish out the week doing a little fishing from his boat. The ex-special ops vet enjoys his peaceful life and loves his new career. He’s learned to put his past behind him and enjoy his blessings. Until a mourning redhead walks into his office and changes his plans.

Lexi Ramos always knew her family was dysfunctional. Until the sudden death of her brother, she never knew exactly how much. Consumed with questions surrounding his accident, she seeks the help of a private investigator. What starts out as a murder investigation in Cozumel, quickly crosses borders and escalates into a race against time to save them both from Brazilian kidnappers, who somehow know more about her family secrets than she does. Lexi soon realizes that life comes with a price.

About Theresa Lynn Hall:

Theresa is an award-winning author of Christian Fiction. A native Texan, she loves to write suspenseful stories that happen in small Texas towns with old-fashioned Southern values. She’s an elementary teacher and mom to two boys—the oldest being in law enforcement, which comes in handy when she’s researching. When she’s not teaching kids or writing, she loves to cook, read a good suspense, and binge-watch episodes of Dateline. She loves to hear from readers and can be found at www.theresalynnhall.com and @theresalynnhall. 

Guest Author: Elle E. Kay

Today is a Beautiful Day

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is coming up through the woods behind my house. When I look out front, I can see that the daffodils are beginning to open. The grass is turning green again. I can hear the birds singing their lovely songs. I can choose to focus on all these wonderful things. I can choose to trust God and enjoy the gifts He’s provided.

My stomach issues are bothering me this morning. A migraine is destroying my concentration. My son came home upset that he and his girlfriend had another fight. I can choose to focus on all these negative things. I can choose to be miserable and wallow in the difficulties of life in this world.

Which would you focus on?

Stella chooses God. She chooses life. And she focuses on her blessings. I want to be like her. To focus on God when everything around me falls apart. I want to be like the birds and sing songs to the Lord.  Life isn’t easy for me. I don’t think it’s easy for anybody. We all suffer different things. Yet, we can choose joy anyway. We can remind ourselves to spread the joy of the Lord instead of the pain of the world.

I recently finished my major edits for Claudia, the second book in the Edinsville Series. It is now in the hands of my capable editor and several beta readers. I struggled with the edits for that book. I wrote most of it in a month, but put it aside for a year and half before I finally sat back down to finish it. I don’t know why I procrastinated on editing Claudia, but what I do know is that I can celebrate the accomplishment of finally sending it off to the editor, or I can focus on my failure to do it sooner.

We have that choice with almost everything in life. Often I choose wrong, but today with the sun shining, the birds singing, and the flowers blooming, I’m choosing joy. I’m going to enjoy the blessings of the day and focus on them. I’m going to lift my voice in song unto the Lord. I will praise the Lord, focusing on the blessings.

I hope you will join me.

Psalms 146:2 (KJV)—While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

About STELLA (Edinsville Series, Book 1):

Heart-pounding suspense meet heart-warming faith and romance as Stella faces an evil beyond her control. Holding on to a thread of faith, she follows it home to Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountain region, where she meets Jason. A complication she’d rather not get entangled with. Stella must decide if she will let her circumstances destroy her, or if she will find the good and praise the Lord through the downpour.

This novel tackles the difficult subjects of rape, pregnancy, and kidnapping through a lens of faith and hope.

About Elle E Kay

Elle E. Kay lives on a farmette in the Back Mountain region of Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband, dog, and farm animals. She enjoys playing with goats and sheep.

Elle is a born-again Bible believing Christian. Stella is her debut novel. The next book in the Edinsville Series, Claudia is expected to be released this year. Elle writes children’s books under the pen name, Ellie Mae Kay. 

Guest Author: Donna Schlachter

Writing What You Don’t Know

We’ve all heard that we should write about what we know. But what if you find out about a project that you don’t know anything about but would like to learn?

I discovered since I started writing seriously that I love history. I met up with Mary Davis at an ACFW conference  and asked her what she was working on. She said she and three other authors were putting together a proposal on the Pony Express. I said if there was an opening, I’d love to join.

I told my husband about this meeting, and he said, “Sounds like an excuse for a road trip.” So I researched the Pony Express and learned that the only station in Colorado was in Julesburg. So we picked a long weekend and set out. Along the way, we stopped at the visitor center at Sterling, Colorado. I asked if they had information about the Pony Express, and she showed me the couple of pieces they had. She also said I should talk with the past president of the Colorado Pony Express Association. She called him, Gary came down, and we spent an hour talking about the Pony Express.

Prior to this trip, before I even knew if I’d be able to get in on Mary’s collection, I’d visited the library and read a bunch of stuff about the Pony Express. I’d researched online, and I’d ordered a couple of books from Amazon.

A month later, Mary Davis emailed and said one of the ladies had to drop out and now there was an opening. Because I’d done the research, I was ready to submit a proposal.

What I’ve learned:

1. Writing only what I know boxes me in. Writing what I’d like to know allows me to learn and explore. I don’t need to be an expert; I just need to know enough to sound credible. If I don’t know a particular detail, I can always look it up online or find a book with the information.
2. Writers conferences are great places to connect with other authors as well as with agents and editors.
3. The more I learn about a subject, the more excited I get, and the easier it is to write about it.
4. No matter the topic, there is a book, a museum, or an expert out there.
5. Folks love talking about their jobs. Plan to interview someone.
6. Research the kind of museum you’d like to visit—many have virtual tours if you can’t physically visit. 

About the Book

This is a 9-in-1 novella collection from Barbour Books centered on the Pony Express, which ran from April 1860 through November 1861. The Pony Express already seems to be a romantic snippet of Americana, and so it seemed to make sense to write a collection of historical romance set on the trail. My story, Echoes of the Heart, features a mail order bride responding under an assumed name, a crippled station master who thinks no woman will want him, and their search for a future—together or separately.

About Donna

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a hybrid publisher who has published a number of books under her pen name and  under her own name. Her current release, Echoes of the Heart, a 9-in-1 novella collection titled "Pony Express Romance Collection" released April 1. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She will be teaching an online course for American Christian Fiction Writers in June 2017, “Don’t let your subplots sink your story”. Donna loves history and research, and travels extensively for both.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

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Echoes of the Heart

Guest Post: Patrick E. Craig (with GIVEAWAY!)

A warm welcome to Author Patrick. E. Craig! I love this post, and I think you will too, my fellow sheep. As if the post isn’t a sweet enough reason to be right where you are right now—here on Chirp ‘N Chatter—Patrick will be giving away THREE copies of his latest release, THE AMISH PRINCESS! Read the post and leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win one of them.

No Wonder He calls us Sheep

by Patrick E. Craig

My wife, Judy, and I used to raise sheep. We gave them shots, we sheared them, we cleaned up their feet when they got foot rot, clipped their hooves, cleaned their boils and abscesses… it was a never-ending story. If we didn’t feed them by 6 a.m. they stood at the back fence and bellowed until I came out. When the ewes lambed, we had to put them in the barn with the baby for three days so they would bond. We had to give the mama a bucket of molasses water to help her get her strength back. We had to make sure that the mama had enough milk and if they didn’t we had to bottle feed the lamb

                                        stock.adobe.com

for a month. That meant getting up at 12 a.m. and feeding them every four hours for thirty days. We did all these things for their good, and still they fought us every step of the way. They struggled, they cried, they ran away when we needed to get them in the pen. When it was time to give them their yearly shots, I had to chase them down, drag them to the barn and “cast them down,” which means that I wrestled them down on their back with their feet up in the air. When they are in that position, they are completely helpless.

Bet you didn’t know that when you read “Why art thou cast down, O my soul” in Psalm 42:5. God is describing a sheep with his legs stuck straight up in the air, hopeless and helpless.

Being a writer is like being a sheep in some ways. We want to do it our way. We want fame recognition, publishing contracts, an agent, a New York Times Bestseller, and all the rest. God leads us in one direction and if it goes against what we want, we fight Him every step of the way. In my latest book, The Amish Princess, the primary conflict for all the main characters—Opahtuhwe, Jonathan, Joshua and even some of the secondary players—is the age-old battle: doing what God wants, or doing what we want.

You see, it’s no mystery why God calls us “the sheep of His hand.” Everything God does for us, He does for our absolute good, and yet we continue to "struggle against the goads." That’s why sometimes He must apply “the rod and the staff,” or even “cast us down” by adverse circumstances, so that we are absolutely helpless. It is then that the Holy Spirit inspires us to cry “Abba, Father, help us.” It is then that we come back into the relationship that God desires—one of complete dependence on Him. Our writing will only accomplish His purposes when we put our hopes, dreams and desires in a subordinate position to His purpose for us.

You know we really should listen to what He wants and follow His plan. After all, He made the universe. He’s at least a genius…

About THE AMISH PRINCESS

Opahtuhwe, the White Deer, is the beautiful daughter of Wingenund, the most powerful chief of the Delaware tribe. She is revered by her people–a true Indian princess. Everything changes when the murderous Delaware renegade known as Scar brings three Amish prisoners to the Delaware camp. Jonathan and Joshua Hershberger are twin brothers that Scar has determined to adopt and teach the Indian way. The third prisoner is Jonas Hershberger, their father, who has been made a slave because he would not defend his family. White Deer is drawn to Jonathan but his hatred of the Indians makes him push her away. Joshua's gentle heart and steadfast refusal to abandon the Amish faith lead White Deer to a life-changing decision and rejection by her people. In the end, White Deer must choose between the ways of her people and her newfound faith. And complicating it all is her love for the man who can only hate her.

About the Author:

Best-selling author Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next 26 years as a worship leader, seminar speaker, and pastor. In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles and the first two books in the series, The Amish Heiress and The Amish Princess, were published by P&J Publishing . Patrick and his wife Judy make their home in Idaho and are the parents of two adult children and have five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

Find Patrick online:

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Purchase Patrick’s books:

Amazon

Guest Post: Author Mary Alford

The Beauty of Broken

by Mary Alford

Have you ever felt so broken that you didn’t see any way of coming back from it? Brokenness can come either from the circumstances forced on us or the self-infliction caused by us, and I think at some point in our lives, we all feel a little less than perfect.

Maybe you’ve made so many mistakes in your life that you believe there’s no fixing them, not even for God. Well guess what, nothing is too big for God.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Just look in the Bible and you will find multiple examples of broken people finding redemption.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and yet He came up with a different plan for their lives.

David had his friend killed to be with his wife. Broken, David called out for forgiveness and God blessed him. 

Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale. I’d say he reached rock bottom. But God lifted him out of the whale and he fulfilled his mission in Nineveh.   

Paul had Christians put to death until God found him on the road to Damascus, and he became a great apostle.

                  stock.adobe.com  © Photographee.eu

So you see, beauty can be found in brokenness and so can healing.

When I set out to write my February 17^th White Rose Press release, Grace And The Rancher, I wanted to show that kind of beauty and healing in my characters. 

As an author, I love writing about broken and flawed people because I think readers can relate to them the most. We don’t want to read about perfect people living perfect lives. Watching the hero and heroine go from broken to restored just makes for a great romance.

For my heroine, Grace Bradford, forgiving herself is the hardest thing to do. Grace suffered abuse at the hands of the man who was supposed to love her.

Grace was a rising star on the country music scene. Everyone thought her life was perfect, but in truth her marriage was falling apart. After an argument that ended in a car crash, Grace’s husband was killed and Grace’s career finished. Running away from her problems seemed like the only answer. But what Grace found when she moved to Delaney Mountain was not only restoration, but redemption. And forgiveness from herself.   

Kyle Delaney, the hero of the story, is an alcoholic, just like his father. Kyle’s family life is dysfunctional at best. When Kyle almost killed his brother when he drove his vehicle while drinking, Kyle realized he had to get away from his poisoned home life to ever have a chance of changing. He moved to Texas and became a success in his career, but still something was missing from his life. When his father reaches out to him asking for forgiveness, what Kyle finds when he comes back home to Delaney Mountain is the home he’d always dreamed of, and the love that is missing from his life.

So, wherever you are in your life, no matter how dark your world may seem, there’s mending for the shattered. Restoration for the crushed. And hope for the hopeless. It can all be found in God. You just have to look up. 

www.maryalford.net      

About Grace and the Rancher:

Grace Bradford is living a lie. To the world she has the perfect life: A promising country music career and a husband who adores her. But her husband isn't the man everyone believes him to be. When a car accident widows her and ends her career, Grace escapes to Delaney Mountain. But moving to the remote town doesn't wipe away the ugly secret of her marriage. Kyle Delaney never intended to return to Delaney Mountain, but he promises his dying father that he'll turn their land into a working cattle ranch. He uproots his life in Austin, sells his flourishing business as a music agent, and returns to the Colorado town of his childhood. Can a runaway singer and a makeshift rancher, thrust together by circumstance and held together by the common thread of loss and a love of music, find hope and a happily-ever-after under the stars of Delaney Mountain?

Purchase the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the author: 

Mary grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come natural to her.

As a teen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.

She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked.

Today, Mary still lives in Texas, and still creates people facing dangerous situations. In fact, she can’t think of anything else she’d rather do.

Learn more about Mary at www.MaryAlford.net, or send her an email at maryjalfordauthor@gmail.com. 

Guest Post: Ane Mulligan

I'm delighted to welcome Author Ane Mulligan back to Chirp 'N Chatter! I know you'll enjoy Ane's wonderful post, and...she'll be giving away an electronic copy of WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS! Be sure to leave a comment below to be entered in the drawing.

Everyone Wants to Belong

Every time I passed a mirror, I would look to see if I could catch a glimpse of someone I looked like. You see I was adopted as an infant. Now before y'all get the wrong idea, I had a wonderful childhood in a loving family.

I always knew I was adopted. I felt special and loved. I never lacked for love, but when I started school, I met my first set of twins. They were in my class and the two people who looked exactly alike fascinated me. That's when I realized I didn't look like anyone.

My lineage is Irish and a pinch of French. My adoptive dad was Scandinavian and mama was German and Scottish. I began to watch sisters who looked alike, a daughter who looked like her mother. And I felt like I didn't belong anywhere. That is when it started; my obsession with looking at people to see if I could find someone I looked like.

When I turned fifty, I would look in the mirror and wonder if I looked like my mother or father. Was I a combination of both or a replica of one? I didn't have my biological mother or a sister to ask about the changes that happen to women. I would stare into the mirror and ask whose nose is this? Whose ears? Whose hands?

Then in 2009, I found my birth sisters. The whole story is on my website under Adoption. I finally had my answer. I was a replica of my mother – nearly an exact one. I have sisters who look just like me. I have the Mullvain hands. I watched my sisters' mannerisms and realized they were the same as mine!

When my youngest sister, Cindy, and her husband came to see us, I don't remember what I did, but her husband, John, turned to her and said, "She is so your sister." Sweeter words were never heard. And for once, I felt like I truly belonged.

I knew if I felt like this, other people—other women—did too. Being a novelist, the natural progression was to write a story about an adoptee who looks nothing like her loving family. I decided to give her a profession that might help her find her birth mother, and it was one with which I had experience. I made her a lobbyist for a pro family group.

My heroine had to learn that God had placed her where He wanted her. There is a Scripture I love, Psalm 27: 10 "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close." NLT

For me, the story is a tribute to my adoptive parents. And it also is a tribute to how God is trustworthy with our dreams. I had to give Him my dream of finding my birth sisters, and He was faithful with it. In His time, he brought me great joy by fulfilling my dream. I didn't just get a sister, but five of them.

About WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS:

Her dream job has a Catch 22—and time's running out

Rookie lobbyist Sienna O'Shea is determined to make a name for herself in New York's capitol city and use that influence to gain easier access to her birth records. For years she's searched for her birth mother, but when she's handed her first assignment—to lobby support for the permanent sealing of all adoption records—her worlds collide. Swept up into the intrigue of backroom politics, falling in love was not on Sienna's agenda, but the candidate for Lt. Governor runs a formidable campaign to make her his first lady. When an investigative reporter discovers foreign money infiltrating political campaigns, the trail leads to Sienna's inner circle.

Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. She firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. An award-winning and multi-published novelist and playwright, Ane is the creative director and CEO of Players Guild@Sugar Hill, a community theater and a contributor to Novel Rocket. She resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a dog of Biblical proportion. You can find Ane on her website at www.anemulligan.com or her Amazon author page.