Blog Tour This Week!

This week, December 2-9th, I am delighted to participate in a blog tour thanks to the wonderful author Gail Pallotta. Thanks for inviting me, Gail! 

Here are a few questions and answers about what I'm up to these days. Leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win a pdf copy of GLORY OF THE HEART.

1. What are you working on right now?

I'm so excited to relate that I am finishing Book Five of the Sterling Lakes Series, REFLECTIONS OF THE HEART.This story reunites Cascade Preston with her sister, who went to a foster home when they were younger due to family problems. But it is a romance, too - so of course, there is a dashing hero :-). I am excited to share that Book Four, GLORY OF THE HEART, shown above, will be released very soon.

2. How does it differ from other works in its genre?

Overall, I think that my Inspirational romances are very grounded in reality and set in today's world. These are all good people dealing with big, bad issues. My focus is the character's inner faith and relationship with God, then compounded with their love for each other; it's always a love triangle -- but spiritual and physical! That is what propels my stories and I think this aspect really sets them apart.

3. Why do you write what you do?

Faith and love are integral to me, and a relationship with God is what makes life bearable when there are so many challenges. There is so much joy in a life filled with God's love, and the love of another is a gift to treasure. Spreading this message of hope and entertaining readers is something I strive for in my writing. This avenue sort of chose me, I couldn't NOT write this.

4. How does your writing process work?

Well, it's kind of like that song of Shakira's -- "Wherever, Whenever"! I'm always thinking and making notes, and then when I am ready, I start writing. I try to keep the rewrites to a minimum. My day job is as a writer, which is fortunate because I am  always operating on that 'writing mode' level. I try to do a least a chapter at a time when I write to keep the tone and the flow fluid.

Please leave a comment to be eligible to win a copy of GLORY OF THE HEART.

Find me at www.reginaandrews.com

Next week, the fabulous Diane Craver will be featured: http://www.dianecraver.com/blog.html 
Thanks for visiting!

Love, Amish Style II: Author Diane Craver's New Release - JUDITH'S PLACE, Book 2, Dreams of Plain Daughters Series + GIVEAWAY

Welcome to Gina’s World of Good! This week it is an absolute delight to welcome the talented and successful author Diane Craver, who will share an excerpt from her newest novel, JUDITH'S PLACE, with us. JUDITH'S PLACE is Book 2 in her Dreams of Plain Daughters Series. A mother of six, Diane is a prolific author specializing in romance novels. JUDITH'S PLACE is an Amish romance, filled with heartwarming relationships, realistic details and fascinating cultural references. I know you will fine it a very gut book! 

Welcome, Diane, it is wonderful to have you visiting. Tell us a little about what you are working on.

I recently started writing Fleeting Hope, Book 3 for my Dreams of Plain Daughters Series. Jacob Weaver is in a buggy accident and in a coma. This reminds schoolteacher Ruth Yoder of her fiancé’s death from a buggy accident. She wants to be supportive for Judith as she waits for Jacob to come out of his coma, but it’s not easy for Ruth. After years of being single, Ruth wonders if it’s time for her to have a second love.

Let’s talk about the book you’d like to promote today.  How did you come up with the title and where can we find it?

The funny thing is I used to have difficulty in choosing titles, but I haven’t with my Amish series. Judith’s Place came to me quickly when I decided to write the second book about Rachel’s younger sister.

Judith’s Place is available in ebook and soon will be available in print. 

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FVYVCWA

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/367298

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/judiths-place-diane-craver/1117136516?ean=2940148814672

Please give us a blurb and excerpt of JUDITH'S PLACE.

Blurb:

Judith Hershberger wonders what her life would have been like had she been born into an English family instead of an Amish one. Would she be  happier with the freedom to obtain more schooling as an English young woman instead of being limited to only an eighth grade Amish education?

In Judith’s Place, the second book in the Dreams of Plain Daughters Series, schoolteacher Judith Hershberger yearns to learn more despite the educational restriction imposed on her because of her Amish upbringing. Wanting more than an eighth grade education, she puts off joining the Amish faith. During her rumspringa, she’ll be able to obtain her high school diploma without being shunned. Her father is afraid Judith will leave their Amish community if she passes the GED test. He knows she’s unhappy that Amish women are expected to follow a certain path in life.

When a non-Amish college student, Eliza Dunbar, observes Judith in her classroom, a friendship between the two young women develops. Eliza gives Judith the nudge she needs to study for her GED test. Eliza wonders what it would be like to switch places with Judith to live a simple life without electricity and other modern conveniences. Judith envies Eliza because she is free to attend college.

Jacob Weaver finally gets the encourage to ask Judith to go with him to a Sunday singing. Like Judith, he wants to do something that isn’t allowed in their Plain community. Jacob wants to get his driver’s license so he can drive a truck to make the deliveries for the lumberyard. He needs to earn enough money to buy his own small farm. But even though it sounds plausible, Jacob feels stress with trying to learn to drive a truck instead of a buggy. Once he accomplishes this, Jacob plans to become baptized and join the Amish church. 

Will Judith decide to stay in her Amish community or will she decide leave in order to attend college? Will Judith’s friendship with Jacob influence her as she finds her place? 

Excerpt

As soon as Jacob returned to the lumberyard, his boss Mike asked, “How’d it go? Do you have a date?”

“Yep,” Jacob answered.

“Give me five.” Mike put his hand up in the air.

After slapping Mike’s hand, Jacob moved away quickly to start loading a truck for a shipment that was going to Milford, about a fifty-minute drive from Fields Corner. Mike was a talkative guy, and he didn’t want to be questioned about Judith. No need to tell his boss how Judith hesitated before saying yes to going sledding with him. It took him a long time to get courage to ask her. Now he wondered if he’d made a mistake. Did she think I’m not bright enough for her? She’s a scribe for the The Budget. Samuel said she hadn’t been courted so I thought she might be a little eager to go sledding with me. Maybe Judith doesn’t like sledding. No, that’s not it. She wasn’t sure about going with me. Although his confidence took a hit from her hesitation in saying yes, it couldn’t be all him. Judith wasn’t the first girl he’d asked out for the Sunday get-togethers.  A year ago he’d courted Leah Hostetler a few times, but she’d moved away before they could get serious about each other.

 “Hey, Jacob,” Mike yelled. “Have you ever thought of getting your driver’s license? It’d be a big help for me if you could drive some of the shipments.”

“Don’t you remember I’m Amish? I don’t think driving one of your big trucks would be the same as my buggy.” Mike appeared by his side so he stopped loading and wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. You can’t miss Mike when he stands by you, Jacob thought. He’s a huge guy, even his neck is thick. But Mike blamed his large neck on wrestling. He’d wrestled while in high school and college in the heavyweight class.

 “You said during you rumspringa you could get your license. I didn’t know that you had joined your church.”

“I haven’t joined.” Leaning against the wagon of the truck, Jacob continued, “A few of my friends have gone together and bought a car so that’s why I mentioned getting my license. I’m not sure what my parents would do. They might ask me to move out.” He didn’t think his parents would tell him to leave home and might look the other way, but he wasn’t so sure about Judith’s daed. He’d been interested in Judith Hershberger for a long time. Baptized or not, he wanted to see what happened when he took Judith sledding. He hoped she’d want to see him again and if she did, he didn’t want to upset her daed by doing something English like driving a truck.

 “I don’t want to cause any problems for you with your folks but if you decide to get your license, let me know.”

Jacob grinned at Mike. “You’ll be the first to know. If I drive one of your trucks, you better have good insurance.”

Mike laughed. “No problem on the insurance.”

After the truck was filled with the lumber order, Jacob opened a Coke to drink. He needed the caffeine before cutting trestles. He hadn’t slept much last night, thinking about seeing Judith. He didn’t remember feeling this naerfich when he’d first asked Leah out. Maybe it was because Leah had attended the youth gatherings, so he’d talked to her a few times first before asking her for a date.

He fingered the cold Coke can while he couldn’t stop thinking about Judith. Sure, he knew her from their families being close, but she’d always been quiet when the Weavers and Hershbergers used to get together. Many times she’d go off with Katie when Samuel and Rachel were busy talking. And they hadn’t gotten together as much since Irene Hershberger passed on. Irene had been his mamm’s best friend. Now that Samuel and Rachel had married in November, they enjoyed visiting with Rachel’s brother, Peter and his wife, Ella.

Judith looked pretty in her blue dress with her bright blue eyes in a delicate face. She was the prettiest teacher Fields Corner Amish School ever had...probably not only the prettiest, but the smartest one too. Samuel told him that Judith had changed her mind about joining the church with Katie and Rachel because she wanted to study and get her her high school diploma. Why would she want to do that when she was Amish? She didn’t need more education to teach in their Amish school. Was she thinking about going elsewhere to teach? He hoped not. One thing for sure, I better think of interesting things to discuss with Judith on Sunday. I enjoy reading her letters in The Budget. That will be a good topic for us. I can also ask her about her scholars. She likes to read, but I haven’t read any books lately so that’s out.

With both of them not being baptized, he hoped Mr. Hershberger wouldn’t object if they started dating. They shouldn’t officially date until both were baptized, but Rachel wasn’t baptized when she dated Samuel. And they were just going sledding as friends, not as boyfriend and girlfriend. I’m getting way ahead of myself here. I just need to get through Sunday evening. I hope that Judith will want to spend more time with me, even though I don’t like to read. Hey, they say opposites attract.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend they start with and why?

I’d probably recommend A Gift Forever because I have never received a bad review for it, and everyone seems to really love the characters and the storyline. It was previously published as A Christmas Gift so I’m hoping with the new title and cover, sales will continue year round instead of just during the holiday season. Readers have said it’s a great story for year round reading and several suggested I change the title. Because it’s based on a true childhood incident and a few other real experiences, it’s one of my favorites stories I have ever written.

Tell us about your summer vacation – this year, 2013 or perhaps in the past.

We decided to build a smaller house so we didn’t want to spend too much money on vacations. We’re trying to sell our old house so hopefully the right buyer will come along soon. We raised our six children in this house so we have some special memories from living here. This past summer we went to Amish country in Berlin, Ohio, for a couple of days and it was wonderful. But we had a longer vacation in August of 2011 for our 36th wedding anniversary. I finally convinced my husband to go on a cruise to the Bahamas. It was fantastic getting away and just enjoying ourselves for several days without any responsibilities. 

Do you belong to a writer’s group? Why or why not?

I belong to a group of talented authors. I was honored when Karen Wiesner invited me to join her Jewels of the Quill group. Here is the link for their amazing website: http://www.jewelsofthequill.com

Thanks for spending a bit of time with Gina’s World of Good!  Best wishes for your continued success.  Where can readers find you on the Web?

My website is http://www.dianecraver.com. I have excerpts for my books on my site so I hope everyone will visit. When I did my new website, I didn’t keep my old blog so I also have a new blog, http://www.dianecraver.com/blog. Thank you so much, Gina, for having me on your lovely blog.

Leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. 

Thank you for visiting, Diane ! Good luck with your new release, JUDITH'S PLACE, and please visit with me again soon. :-)

Welcome, Author Linda Weaver Clarke - Free E-Book Giveaway with Comment!

Welcome to Gina’s World of Good!

This week it is really a joy to welcome author Linda Weaver Clarke to Gina's World of Good. Linda will be chatting with us about writing and especially giving us the scoop on her wonderful new release, a sweet romance titled THE REBELS OF CORDOVIA. Anyone who comments this week will receive a FREE e-book of this novel. Yes, you read that correctly - anyone who comments receives a free e-copy of THE REBELS OF CORDOVIA. How generous and exciting. Welcome, Linda!

Tell us, please, Linda - as an author, what makes a book great in your eyes?

My children and I list books as first timers and second timers. If it’s a good book but I only read it once, then it’s a first timer. If a book can be read more than once, then it’s a second timer. What makes it a second timer? If a book touches my heart, makes me laugh, makes me sigh, and maybe weep a little, then that book will be read more than once. If I’ve gotten it from the library, then I usually buy it.

Tell us a little about your book, The Rebels of Cordovia.

The Rebels of Cordovia is a “sweet romance” set in the 1700s. Centuries after the legendary Robin Hood, a group of men and women find themselves fighting for the same cause: for their rights, for freedom of speech, and equality. Robin’s Rebels realize they must fight against the tyranny of a wicked king and help the people survive this oppression. In the small country of Cordovia, small groups of rebels begin springing up, but its Robin’s Rebels who get the attention of the king.

In this battle for freedom, a tender love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?

Let’s talk about the book you’d like to promote today.  How did you come up with the title?

My characters are rebels, fighting for liberty in a small country called Cordovia. They chose not to put up with the tyranny of a wicked king. So they decided to put together their own little group of rebels. Thus: The Rebels of Cordovia!

What was the inspiration behind this story?

My story was inspired because of the importance of freedom in our country. America had to fight for her liberty. The patriots fought valiantly for what was most valuable to them: freedom of choice, for their rights as individuals, and to worship according to the dictates of their own heart. The patriots fought with every fiber of strength they had, both bond and free, for what we enjoy today. This was my inspiration.

What was your first reaction when you got a glimpse of your cover art?

I actually said out loud, as I looked at it on my computer: “Oh my gosh! I love it! I really love it!” Then I called my husband in to look at it and he loved it, too. The arrow stuck in the tree trunk was so perfect, because that represented my book exactly.

Where can we read an excerpt of this book?

Visit my website at http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/rebels.html and you can read the first chapter of this book. Happy Reading!

Name two things readers would be surprised to know about you.

First thing: I fly all over the U.S., teaching people how to write their family history or their own autobiography. I believe it’s very important to teach our children their heritage. We are the people we are because of our ancestors. It’s up to us to write these experiences down. Our children need to be proud of their ancestors. To learn more about what I teach and read sample stories of my ancestors, you can visit my website at www.lindaweaverclarke.com.

Second thing: I have six daughters and no sons. It’s quite a mad house at Thanksgiving when we all get together. Three of my daughters are married now, so I have five grandchildren to add to the wonderful chaos.

Thanks for spending a bit of time with Gina’s World of Good! Best wishes for your continued success.  Where can readers find you on the Web?

World of Make Believe: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com

A Family Friendly Blog: http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com

Author of Sweet Romance and Mystery: http://lindaweaverclarke.wordpress.com

A Great Big Texas Welcome to Romance Author, Celia Yeary!

This week we are visiting with Western romance author Celia Yeary, who shares with us her ideas on inspiration, imagination and the art of writing. Celia is a prolific author of historical and contemporary romances, most of which are set in Texas.  One of the nicest people you'll ever meet, Celia is talented, enthusiastic and very supportive of aspiring new authors. Welcome, Celia!

How I Tackle Writing

Celia Yeary

Did you know you can find numerous articles on the internet about how to write a novel? Most of them begin with “think of a good story.” Now that, in my opinion, is the most fascinating bit of advice I’ve ever read. “Think of a good story.” I've wondered if Margaret Mitchell said that to herself as she sat down at her typewriter. She certainly had a good story; I’ll admit that.

Recently, I learned from another blog that Margaret Mitchell actually did sit down at her typewriter in her small apartment to "see if she could write a book." She began with the last chapter, which I found to be of great interest, and when she finished Gone With the Wind, she was reluctant to allow anyone to read it. Amazing, isn't it? And that was the one and only book she ever wrote.

If I could be so lucky. But I'm not.

First, for me to think up a good story I need time to DAYDREAM. That’s step number one —time to stare into space and let my mind wander, imagining a scene or a character. This might occur while I’m watching mind-numbing television, or while we’re on a long road trip and I have time to stare at the highway in front of me, or best of all, if the house is quiet and I’m all alone. 

Second, I need A PROMPT of some kind. This might be an old weathered gray house on the side of the road, and I wonder who lived there and why. Maybe I see unique person walking along the sidewalk, and I wonder who she is and where is she going. Perhaps I read a news article, and something in it turns into a scene with people acting out the story in the article. 

Third, I need to ENVISION a character, male or female, doesn’t matter. Who is this character? What is her story?

I needed to write a 25,000 word Christmas story, and I thought of a couple I know who recently married. She is a nurse, very tall, and she married a doctor who was even taller. They worked together on a medical mission team in Guatemala and fell in love. So, my story is based on a young woman who is to be maid of honor to her brother’s best man. She worries about her height, but when she meets him, he stands even taller than she. And of course, he’s a hunk. In my story, my heroine is a pediatric nurse and my hero is an ex-Army medic. A Christmas Wedding was born.

Of all the things that might make me think of a story, the PROMPT is the most important.

For The Stars at Night,  the PROMPT was an officer on a motorcycle who passed us on the highway to stop a big black SUV in the Central Texas Hill Country. At the time, I wondered--who was driving that vehicle? A woman? Where is she going in such a hurry? As we passed, I noticed the SUV had New York license plates. Aha! The story began.

The PROMPT for Addie and the Gunslinger actually came from a publisher's description of novellas they were seeking for a series. A story immediately came to me, about an outlaw who had gone straight but landed in jail anyway. A beautiful woman arrived to save him, and through his bewilderment at her claiming he was her long lost sorry husband, he played along to get out of jail. This novella has become my all-time best-selling story--and it was a reject from the publisher.

I'll bet many authors write stories based on something unexpected. Not many of us can sit down like Margaret Mitchell with the thought, "I'll see if I can write a book." On the other hand, maybe she had a prompt that we don't know about. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know what that was?

My most recent releases are Western Contemporary Romance novellas: "Rodeo Man" and "Truck Stop Paradise." I call these companion stories, as both are set in West Texas and Dallas. This was purely coincidental on my part. However, the novellas are stand-alone stories. I asked Karen Michelle Nutt, the artist, to create covers that resembled each other, and she did a great job.

BLURB for Rodeo Man

Celia Yeary

Marla Ellington inherits an abandoned town on ranchland near Arrowhead, Texas. When she arrives to claim her property, and finds Cody Matheson sitting on the porch of the dilapidated honky-tonk, her temper flares hotter than her pistol. Anger blazing, she settles in for a showdown.

Cody’s only goal for the week is to win the bull-riding event at the Saturday night rodeo. But when Marla receives an anonymous threat that forces her to leave town, Cody finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a mystery. ’Course, catching a criminal and lasting eight seconds on a bull are easy compared to winning the love of the feisty, strawberry-blonde beauty who wants

nothing to do with him.

Now it's his turn for a showdown.

 Links:

Amazon--

http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Man-ebook/dp/B00B14S4X4/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358284697&sr=1-21&keywords=celia+yeary

Barnes and Noble--

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rodeo-man-celia-yeary/1114304192?ean=2940044251304 

BLURB for Truck Stop Paradise

 Leigh Anne McClintock has spent her adult life shielding her addictive sister Crissy. But when Crissy abandons a horse, Leigh Anne borrows a pick-up and trailer and takes the horse from North Texas to the Panhandle ranch owned by a childhood friend, Chad Rogers.

Chad has wondered for years why his best friend Leigh Anne betrayed him and her sister Crissy on the night of their ten-year high school reunion. When Leigh Anne arrives, he willingly takes in the animal, and he cautiously tries to make peace with Leigh Anne. They feel the old attraction, but neither can let go of the past.

When Crissy makes a disturbing appearance, will Chad and Leigh Anne finally learn to put themselves first ... and find the love that had been there all along.

Links:

Amazon--

http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Stop-Paradise-ebook/dp/B00CD38BEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366115197&sr=1-1&keywords=celia+yeary

Barnes and Noble-

 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Truck-Stop-Paradise?keyword=Truck+Stop+Paradise&store=book

~*~

***I'd love to give away a copy of each novella. If you have a Kindle or a Nook, if I choose your name, I'll Gift both to you. If I choose your name and you've already read these stories, please feel free to find my Author Page on Amazon--or Barnes and Noble--and find two other books you'd like to have.

Thank you all for visiting and reading How I Tackle Writing.

~*~

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary

My Website

My Blog

Sweethearts of the West-Blog

My Facebook Page 

Celia, thank you so much for visiting! Best wishes for continued success with your writing.  I hope you will come back again soon.  :-)

A Writer's Sense of Place: Welcome, Author Kelley Heckart

What a thrill to visit with historical romance fantasy author Kelley Heckart this week. Kelley has chosen a fascinating topic to explore: the writer's sense of place. How does a setting call to a writer? How does a writer choose a setting for their work? This week we will explore all this and more with Kelley - a great writer and a wonderful friend. Leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a PDF of Kelley's short story, THE ENCHANTED MEADOW and a $!0 Amazon gift card. Welcome, all! 

What is your favorite place in the whole world?

Since I don’t travel much outside the United States, my world is kind of small. This didn’t stop me from finding a place I love to re-visit any chance I can. I fell in love with Sedona, AZ, an enchanting place with red-painted rock formations that create a stunning sight in the changing light of the sun. In Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon cuts through lush greenery where dapples of sunlight peek through the archway of trees, glittering and dancing on the water.

Sedona is a unique blend of desert and mountain regions—red sand looks striking against dark green conifers. It’s no wonder this place, touched by the Creator, has vortexes. I have had more than one spiritual awakening here. And I’ve often wondered why I haven’t set one of my stories here.

So, as I was researching Daughter of Night, set in the mountain regions of Anatolia (modern Turkey), I came across a place similar to Sedona. It was a delightful discovery and, of course, this place is used as a setting in my book.

Yazilikaya is a rock sanctuary that was used as a holy sight by the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire in north-central Anatolia around 18th century BC, lasting until about 1200 BC. The Hittites play an important part in Daughter of Night.

Some of the rock formations at Yazilikaya even have a reddish color. The Hittites saw the beauty of this place and used it as a dedication to their gods with sculptural decorations and hieroglyphic inscriptions. A spring of fresh water once flowed through this sanctuary.

Here is an excerpt from Daughter of Night of a scene near the rock sanctuary. Becuille, a vengeance goddess, has been made mortal by Rhea and is now Inaras, a slave to the Hatti (Hittite) royal house. Callileon is a prince of the Hatti.

At the base of a range of craggy hills appeared a paradise of towering red rocks and pine trees in a pleasing blend of red and green. A clear spring sparkled and bubbled beneath the stalwart giants framed by regal pines. Becuille sensed the power of the ancient shrine vibrating through her veins.

He halted the horse, tugging gently on the reins. “This is an open air chamber, a shrine to our gods and goddesses. Someday there will be temples here.” He pointed to the inner chamber.

She wondered why humans wanted to destroy the natural beauty of a place by building manmade temples. “It is beautiful as it stands, untouched by human hands.”

“I agree with you, Inaras. I always wonder if the gods really care for all the temples built in their honor.”

“Some do, I suppose, but here I feel the awesome nature of the gods without the help of manmade temples.” A sense of serenity rippled through her body.

“I have a surprise for you and I think you will like it.” He urged the horse forward past the rock shrines and into a secret grove of oak and alder tucked away beneath a range of barren rock. Green grass and bright yellow flowers found life beneath the sheltering trees. He dismounted and helped her down. She adjusted to standing again, her legs buckling at first. His strong arms held on to her so she would not fall. She felt like she was living a dream and wondered when she would awake.

Callileon left the horse to graze. He escorted her to a seat on soft grass underneath a wide branched oak. Fresh smelling grass, along with the fragrant leaves and flowers, filled the air. The pleasing scents put a smile on her face. She enjoyed being away from the city and all the unpleasant smells associated with a crowded town.

He watched her, arching his thick brow. A crooked smile lit up his face. “You are a complex woman, Inaras, such a mystery.”

“And you are a complex man,” she said with an easy smile.

His expression grew serious, his eyes somber. “If I confess something about myself will you tell me why you were crying?”

“Agreed. You confess first,” she said, hoping he would tell her why it was hard for him to feel love.

“I will tell you something I have never talked about with anyone. You probably wonder why I would tell you, someone I barely know. The truth is since that day in the stables, I can think of no one else but you.”

His gaze appeared truthful, but her heart wrenched with so much deceit.

“I was in love once. At the end of the summer season two years past, we traveled to a nearby settlement. It should have been a safe journey, only in my youthful arrogance I failed to pay attention to our surroundings. We were attacked by a band of Mitanni warriors. She was raped and killed, and I could not save her. I blame myself for her horrible death.” He took her hand and placed it underneath his tunic near his shoulder.

The puckered scar rose like a mountainous ridge beneath her fingertips, the painful memories stored there.

His expression turned somber. “This ugly scar is my constant reminder of that day, the day I failed to save the one I loved.”

Her heart throbbed with pain for him. Her problems seemed so benign next to his. “Is that why you find it so hard to love?”

“Yes.” He held her hand. “Now tell me why you were crying as if your heart would break.”

She hesitated, collecting her thoughts. “I have lost all that I know, the life I had before now,” she said, drawing on her past. “I felt lost and alone. I have no idea why I ended up in the stables, but for some reason it was comforting to me and the tears just fell.”

“We have much in common, you and I.” He gently squeezed her hand. “You were taken from your people and sold into slavery in a strange land. I, too, lost all that I knew. The king was close to my father, one of his vassal kings. They were hearth friends and so he adopted me as a child, but I do not feel like I belong here sometimes.”

“Perhaps we can comfort one another.” The barriers dropped between them. Becuille touched his cheek now clothed in a fine layer of golden beard. She kissed his mouth. Tenderness and passion surged through her body, her heart echoing in her chest in a thrilling tempo.

His hands grasped the back of her neck, pulling her into his arms.

All of the feelings she kept pent up rushed out, and she became lost in his loving embrace. They were no longer master and slave, but two people lost and in need of something to hold on to.

****

Blurb from Daughter of Night:

Their destiny began in the ancient land of Anatolia.

In 1326 BC, Crete is the last remaining sacred place for the Great Goddess, but changes began to threaten the old gods, the Titans. Forced to become an ally to the power hungry Olympian gods, Rhea hangs on to the secret of the star metal, the one key that would make Zeus and the other young gods invincible. When this secret is stolen, Rhea must find the Dactyl and the goddess who betrayed Her before Zeus does.

Becuille is a daughter of Night, a servant of the Great Goddess created to impart Her vengeance on mortal and immortal wrongdoers. Made mortal by Rhea, she is sent to find the ones who betrayed the Great Goddess. In the land of Hatti, she meets a proud and handsome prince. When love binds her to him, her loyalties are torn.

Callileon, a prince of the Hatti, has closed off his heart to love only to rediscover it in the arms of the mysterious and fiery slave girl he has purchased. He is caught up in a dangerous world of power hungry gods, jealous goddesses and potent magic, which even the Fates cannot steer him away from.

Can two mortals fight the will of the gods?

How to find Kelley:

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Links to pictures of Yazilikaya:

http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/yazilikaya

http://www.hattuscha.de/English/yazilikaya.htm

Thank you for a wonderful visit, Kelley. Please come back and visit with us soon!

Friends, leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a PDF of Kelley's short story, THE ENCHANTED MEADOW and a $!0 Amazon gift card.

Welcome, Author Christine London!

This week I am welcoming author Christine London to Gina's World of Good. A prolific author, Christine's novel WHEN WE WERE AMAZING was selected as Author 100 Romances Best of the Year. It a delight to have her visit this week. Leave a comment and be eligible to win a PDF of WHEN WE WERE AMAZING and a $!) Amazon Gift Card. Welcome, Christine!

Now let's get on with our chat.

What makes a book great in your eyes?

   The emotions it evokes. For a book to do its job, for it to have meaning and maybe even change my life it has to ring true to something important. Whether that is the oh-so-real challenges faced by fictional characters or the depth of thought in a nonfiction work, the key to success, to reaching me, is through my heart.

  Uplift. Educate, Entertain. Inspire.

What is the hardest scene you ever had to write?

   Australia, France and California. In spite of the globe hopping backdrops the hardest scene I ever had to write was a car accident. A three year old girl, Livvie, is struck, hand yanked from her brother, Cooper. Her mother Carrie arrives moments later to see the floral print dress of her little girl, limbs askew, peeking out from beneath the car that struck her. Just recalling it now makes my heart squeeze tight in my chest. Anyone who has loved a three year old. Anyone who has had a child. Anyone would feel the same.

Pastel painted facades of six story buildings abutted the frontage, like Lego blocks in a child’s display of idealized reality lining the curve of river. Pedestrians walked along narrow sidewalks. A balloon-tired bike darted onto the street with the thrum of rubber against cobblestones. It all seemed surreal, as though the camera of life had broken, shifted into fluid encumbered ballet.

From around the corner she came, Livvie toting Cooper. Determination in her stance she pulled on him like a dog on its lead. A spotlight of happiness shone, her children in the midst of the gloom. They reached the curb. Carrie lifted her hand to wave, to call.

And then the world slowed into eternity.

The grip was broken. Livvie dove into the street headlong, unseeing toward river’s edge. A screech of tires. The blur of metal. Then interminable silence. Carrie wanted her heart to stop, because if what she saw was true, her life was over.

She froze, blood turning to ice in her veins. Power unknown shot through her. Muscles fired to life propelling her forward. She was at the front bumper of the white sedan before she could take another breath. Hands on the hood, she pushed with the strength of heaven. The car rolled back, and Livvie’s crumpled form appeared, an unnatural twisting of limbs, clothing, hair. Her face was turned toward the undercarriage, ear and cheek the only visible features.

Carrie’s first reaction was to hold her, rock her in her arms like the baby she was. Sing a

lullaby, the aural version of motherly shield from harm. Feel the weight of her, the reassuring warmth, the powder sweet scent of her ivory flesh against hers, in her nostrils reassurance of home, safety, life.

But like a china doll, Livvie lay motionless, broken.

The scream that erupted from her core sounded distant, yet it tore something irreplaceable from her. It was like her own blood poured forth on that street in Lyon, all color, all light draining from the world in an instant. Carrie looked up as though a magnet drew her eyes.

Cooper jolted to a halt above her, face contorted in horror.

Torn from her, Carrie’s heart vacated her chest, leaving in its place a chasm of cold, hideous death.

“Call. Get help.” More disembodied words, the sound coming from her, but not real. She

turned back to the rumpled form below, covering her with the tent of her chest, so carefully surrounding the sweet floral fabric of Liv’s dress. Cheek placed on cheek, she listened for respiration.

*****************

Excerpt from: When We Were Amazing - Christine London (http://christinelondon.com/books/when-we-were-amazing )

 Twenty three year old Aussie wine heir Bryan Lassiter wanted nothing more than to be a self made man. When online love, California ranch owner Carrie Sorrell flies half way round the globe to visit him, she’d no idea his magnetism would erase both their fourteen year age difference and her common sense. As fate and a powerful family collide to tear them apart, will she have the strength to let him go or will it be the secret she’s so carefully protected that destroys… or heals?

What is your favorite place in the whole world?

   Those who read my blog know I adore exploring new places. From California's golden grassed hills to Paris and London's historical wonders, to Australia's wine country and back. I have happily traveled to many gorgeous locales.

   At the end of the day, it is my own back garden that I adore. Perhaps it is the familiarity of home. Maybe the plants that I have memorized over the years as I care for them. Maybe the dancing twinkle of lights strung along my pergola or the happy tinkle of the wind chime. More likely, it is the place my closest friends and family have gathered, sometimes around the round of raised brick fire pit, sometimes at the simple white rimmed and glass picnic table. Maybe it is their love and presence that makes it so.

   My back garden is my favorite place in the world.

If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend they start with and why?

  Now that would depend of if that someone was a fan of short reads or full length novels, spicy or sweet. End of October or first of November my anthology of short stories, 55 Portobello Road, is slated to come out in both e and print format at Amazon.com. Six of the eight shorts are already available at Amazon in electronic format for 99 cents.

Notting Hill Scrooge -  http://tinyurl.com/qagpnhb

Happy New Year Baby - http://tinyurl.com/q69dgk6

Valentine Huntsman - http://tinyurl.com/ojwu9sz

Pancake Race - http://tinyurl.com/nhlewqr

Cait the Cat Burglar - http://tinyurl.com/pkhcsqx

Caught Being Good - http://tinyurl.com/kvu6hhn

 They are a great way to get a taste of my American/British tinged tales in a short, sweet doses you may not wish to end.

   

Full length fleshed out tale? My first is the story of my heart that got me into this biz (Soul In His Eyes http://christinelondon.com/books/soul-in-his-eyes ), though unless you like celebrity-meets-every-day-girl stories with the celeb having the most to learn, you might prefer the lavish, sexy love letter to Hawaii (Reluctant Companions http://christinelondon.com/books/reluctant-companions ) or the touching tale of a young woman coming to terms with the recent diagnosis that has shattered her world—Leap of Faith http://christinelondon.com/books/leap-of-faith .

  

Hard to say, and certainly as personal a choice as the clothes you wear. All can be sampled at christinelondon.com  under the pull down menu of the "Books" tab.

What three things bring you to tears?

These days, a lot. Maybe it is the softening of the heart as we age or the fluctuating hormones that does it.

- The beauty in nature, be that a breathtaking sunrise or a snow capped mountain jutting from the verdant green of the valley below. God's paintbrush is unrivalled.

-A heartfelt note from a reader whose life has been touched by what I have written.

-The distance and infrequency in seeing my Marine First Lieutenant daughter stationed clear on the other side of the continent—and how very proud I am of her courage and accomplishments. Trying to come to terms with the fact that my disabled son may never enjoy all the things in life with which I have been blessed. (Oh, that four— Sorry.)

   Thank you for leading me through this amazing journey with the thoughtful questions you have asked, Regina. I love visiting you and your readers.

Thank you for visiting, Christine! Please come back again soon.

Here are some ways to find Christine in cyberspace:

Christine London
Author 100 Romances Best Of the Year, When We Were Amazing
Tweet sweet with Christine at https://twitter.com/ChristineLondon
Facebook cool stuff: https://www.facebook.com/christine.london
Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/Christine-London/e/B003MX4AW6/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Impossibly Pretty Pinteresting: http://pinterest.com/christinelondon/

Now Available! PRAISE of the HEART, Book 3: The Sterling Lakes Series

So happy to let you know that the 3rd book in my Inspirational Romance series, The Sterling Lakes Series, is now available at Writer's-Exchange Publishing. http://www.writers-exchange.com/Praise-of-the-Heart.html

PRAISE of the HEART finds pro baseball player Cliff Markham coming home to help with the fundraising efforts for the renovations at St. Luke's Church. However, his home town of Sterling Lakes is not as idyllic as he remembers. The town librarian Laura Matthewson is key in helping him research the problems with the town's water source. Will she assist him in his efforts to unearth the truth? Or does she have secrets of her own to hide?

Here's a review of Sterling Lakes Book 2, ANGELS of the HEART:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Christian Book!, June 23, 2013

By 

Diane Craver (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sterling Lakes Series Book 2: Angels of the Heart (Kindle Edition)

Regina Andrews hooked me instantly into her Sterling Lakes Book Two: Angels of the Heart. From the first page, I felt like I was on the studio set of WMAS with Maryanne Lynch, a television journalist. Although Maryanne is engaged to Elwood, a wonderful man, she's eager to talk with an old high school friend, Travis Collimore, when he comes to the studio. As a developer, he tells Maryanne how the Townsend Barn will be destroyed when they do renovations of St. Luke's Church. Maryanne hasn't seen Travis for years, so she goes to Sterling Lakes Diner to continue their conversation and to catch up. She's happy to see him but isn't pleased that his consortium group have plans to destroy the old barn along with its rare angel weather vane.

She's surprised that while speaking with Travis in the diner she starts feeling warm. Why is Travis having this effect on her after all these years? Maryanne is a feisty and amazing woman. She decides to save the barn from being torn down, even though her fiancé, Elwood, disagrees with her. Her determination and compassion is what draws the town's people to her goal of saving something that is more than a barn to everyone. It seems to represent the spirit of the people. It's heartwarming how they come together as a unit to save what is important to their community. The barn is symbolic especially to Maryanne. She has happy memories of playing with her brother Mark in the barn before he died at age six. Losing the barn would be devastating to Maryanne because her childhood is tied with her precious times there.

Maryanne's caring for others doesn't stop at her TV studio. She reaches out to a pregnant teenager, Crystal, who needs her assistance. Travis is also a multidimensional character with his charity work being a priority in his life. He flies a helicopter for the Angel Flight Program and delivers transplant patients to the hospitals where the organs are available.

The way that Andrews weaved the story of Maryanne and Travis is touching, sweet, and even humorous at times. Reading how each character approaches their spiritual growth as Christians was uplifting to me. As I read this book, I felt like the author's words poured from her heart as a Christian. Regina Andrews has created an inspirational romance readers will root for, and I highly recommend this book.

http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1922066915/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

Check out my website for more great reviews: http://www.reginaandrews.com