tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89113145446742878282024-03-12T20:50:40.274-04:00Jill KemererJill Kemerer: Inspirational Romance AuthorJill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comBlogger884125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-53902936746405716872015-03-02T10:47:00.002-05:002015-03-02T10:47:16.766-05:00My Blog Has Moved!!Thank you for stopping by! My blog has moved to my new online home, <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog"><b><span style="font-size: large;">jillkemerer.com/blog</span></b></a>! I continue to post on Wednesdays and Fridays, so stop by and subscribe either via email, or type <b><span style="color: red;">jillkemerer.com/feed</span></b> into your preferred reader (I use <a href="http://feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly</a>)!<br />
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My latest book news is always available on my website,<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/">http://jillkemerer.com/</a></b></span>.<br />
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Thank you for all your support! What are you waiting for? Come on over to <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog/" target="_blank">my new blog</a></b></span>!<br />
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JillJill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-20491562835080003372015-02-25T06:01:00.000-05:002015-02-25T06:01:00.197-05:00This is Love by Kariss Lynch and a Giveaway!Kariss Lynch is sharing what love means to her and offering a chance to win a signed copy of her new book, <b><i>Shadowed</i></b>! Stop by my new blog and join the conversation!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://wp.me/p5H3Xm-1c0" target="_blank">HERE</a> to be redirected to her guest post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just a reminder: After this week, I will no longer be posting to this URL. My blog has moved to <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog/">http://jillkemerer.com/blog/</a>. I would love it if you'd stop by and subscribe! Thank you!!</span><br />
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Have a great day!Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-45940180052375726142015-02-18T06:01:00.000-05:002015-02-18T06:01:00.083-05:00Writer's Life: Courtney WalshI'm interviewing the fabulous Courtney Walsh today! She has a new book out called <b><i>Paper Hearts</i></b>. She's chatting about what makes her heart sing and what she's working on next!!<br />
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For the full interview, go to my new blog, "<a href="http://jillkemerer.com/writers-life-courtney-walsh/" target="_blank">Writer's Life: Courtney Walsh</a>" (http://jillkemerer.com/writers-life-courtney-walsh/).<br />
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Starting March 1, I will no longer post new articles to this blog, so be sure to stop by my new blog, scroll up the sidebar and subscribe either via email or in a reader like <a href="http://feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly</a> by typing in http://jillkemerer.com/feed/. Looking forward to seeing you there!<br />
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Thank you so much!!Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-52337720442895522812015-02-11T06:01:00.000-05:002015-02-11T06:01:00.276-05:00Valentine's Giveaway!Hey everyone, Jessica Snell is sharing the history of Valentine's Day at my new blog home! She wrote a fascinating book called, <b><i>Let Us Keep the Feast: Living the Church Year at Home,</i></b> so pop on over and join the conversation!<br />
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Don't forget, the big Valentine's Giveaway, including goodies from the fabulous Jennifer Major, books from Jen Turano, Lisa Jordan, Jill Lynn, and the short story collection I contributed to are all prizes! It's easy to enter!<br />
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What are you waiting for? Stop by!<br />
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<a href="http://wp.me/p5H3Xm-1bf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click HERE for Jessica's post AND to enter the Valentine's Giveaway!</b></span></a><br />
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I have a new blog home, <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog/">http://jillkemerer.com/blog/</a>. Please take a minute to hop over and subscribe (click to the new site and either enter your email address in the subscription form at the top of the sidebar or go to your preferred reader (like <a href="http://feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly</a>) and type http://jillkemerer.com/feed so you won't miss any new posts! After March 1, I will no longer add new articles to this blog. Thank you!Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-18676667096589395512015-02-06T07:01:00.000-05:002015-02-06T07:01:00.135-05:00Are You in a Time Management Rut?<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
All month, I'm phasing out my Blogger blog and transitioning to my new blog home, but in the meantime, here is an excerpt of my latest post. Click on the link below for the full article!</div>
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Nothing throws me into a tizzy faster than a big project gone wrong. Who has time for that? No one!</div>
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Most of January was like that for me. A big project consumed all my time and frustrated me in the process. Then the project ended (it turned out terrific!), but the backlog of items on my to-do list overwhelmed me.</div>
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I was terribly embarrassed to realize I missed my scheduled day on the group blog I contribute to. And I'd dropped the ball on a few emails I'd promised. Enough was enough. I had to get my workday under control. I promptly ordered a time management book I'd seen reviewed in a magazine...</div>
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Please click on <a href="http://wp.me/p5H3Xm-1aT" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Are You in a Time Management Rut?</span></a> for the rest of the post at my new blog home, http://jillkemerer.com/blog/. Once there, be sure to subscribe in the sidebar (either via email or in a reader) so you won't miss any of my new posts. Thank you for your patience!</div>
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After March 1, I will no longer post new content on this blog. Come join me at <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog">http://jillkemerer.com/blog</a>/!!</div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-2891804899660579952015-02-04T07:00:00.000-05:002015-02-04T07:00:01.574-05:00Chatting with the Jills: Coffee Commercials<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I'm SO excited to have Jill Lynn on the blog today! I met Jill at an ACFW conference two years ago. Someone referred to us as "the Jills," and I loved it! Jill Lynn is hilarious, super cute, nice AND a fantastic writer. Her debut novel, <b><i>Falling for Texas</i></b>, is available now!! It's delightful! Jill is giving away a copy to one blessed reader, so be sure to enter the contest below! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of a guest post or interview, Jill and
I are imagining what it would be like if we were the stars in the International
Coffee commercials from the eighties. If you haven’t had the pleasure of viewing
these masterpieces, I’ve embedded a few below. You’re welcome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
K: Thanks for coming over and chatting with me today, Jill. Let’s go out to my
jungle of a backyard. Go ahead and have a seat on my wicker loveseat. I just
love these oversize shirts! My orange sweatshirt is approximately four sizes
too large for me, but it still looks good. My husband said so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: (Insert fake laughter) Oh, Jill, I do love the feel of wicker. They just
don’t make a more comfortable seat, do they? And your orange sweatshirt is
stunning, though I’m partial to my… (Am I wearing a one piece outfit under this
blue monstrosity? I think I am.) It doesn’t compare to my flowered full-body ensemble
and blue tent sweater. I really prefer my clothing in one large piece so that
it doesn’t complement my body whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
K: Good tip! Whew, it’s muggy out here. Why am I wearing so many layers?
*fanning myself* What does the coffee remind you of?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: Gas station cappuccino. You?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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K: Watered down instant coffee. Hey, scooch over! I always
sit two inches away from my friends. Hope you don’t mind me leaning in and
giggling. Do you ever wonder what Jean Luc is doing now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: I don’t mind you leaning in and giggling! Let’s sit as close as possible!
And as for Jean Luc… we still keep in touch. What? You don’t?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
K: *bites lower lip” No. He got mad when I called sixty-three times in one day.
There was no need for him to threaten me with a restraining order. But I’m sure he’s over his tiff by now. Men! Hey, Jill, since we’re
reminiscing and I’m having a midlife crisis, why don’t we go to your house and
find your old prom dresses? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: *Squeal* Yes, let’s! Maybe we’ll get lucky and it will smell like it’s been
stuffed in a trunk all of these years!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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K: Like my new wig? I Googled “Mrs. Garrett’s hairstyle on The Facts of Life.”
She’s my style icon! Anyhow, I found your hot pink prom dress! Pour me a cup of
that Suisse Mocha and try that bad boy on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: I’m sorry my voice sounds so much like a man. Before I try to squeeze into
that old dress, let’s consume some fake sugar together that our body has no
idea how to process!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
K: Yes! Although the last time I drank fake sugar, let’s just say I was in the
bathroom A LOT. Remember Steve? Didn’t he wear a white tuxedo with matching hot
pink vest and tie? And the hair…how <i>did </i>he
wear his hair?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: I think it was similar to mine. In fact, we might have the same haircut!
Maybe I can get some pointers from him on handling these curls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
K: Just spray a can of Aqua Net on it. It’s like glue. Look, your dress still
fits! I’m calling Steve! I’m sure he still has that sky blue Chevette he picked
you up in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jill
L: Call him! I can’t right now because I’m too busy twirling in circles while
you smile, laugh, and break into dance with me. Oops! Sorry about that invasion
of your personal space! I’ve seriously got to learn to keep my distance from
people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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K: I love twirling and dancing and twirling…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thanks, Jill, for being such a good sport and for making me laugh until I cried!! I'm SO happy for you and thrilled to be sharing your release today!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Falling for Texas ~</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Texas-Love-Inspired-Jill/dp/0373879423/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421263374&sr=8-1&keywords=falling+for+texas" target="_blank"><img alt=" Buy Falling for Texas Now!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32dqYbgPVwAeQ91fDqPn61xiaI2NZc1iILR4ogSqEMajPO_MmtuG53AVmagCT_n9YojNorw38EmxeU3sdmT4fUxWV7NhZHINhw2KdTmwyaL8q2AFGHkx0puR9lzluT4huTCEeTs1EAvg/s1600/Cover-Falling-for-Texas-Jill-Lynn-189x300.jpg" height="400" width="251" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Texas-Love-Inspired-Jill/dp/0373879423/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421263374&sr=8-1&keywords=falling+for+texas" target="_blank">Buy Falling for Texas Now!</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Educating the
Cowboy</b> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Raising
his orphaned teenage sister isn't easy for Texas rancher Cash Maddox. The girl
tests his parenting—and patience—at every turn! But when he asks new teacher
Olivia Grayson for help with his sister's grades and attitude, Cash realizes
he's facing the toughest trial of all. He made a promise that he wouldn't date
and get distracted from his mission of being a good father figure. Yet Olivia's
quick wit is drawing him unexpectedly closer to the caring beauty every day.
Could it be time to make a new vow…one that'll last a lifetime? </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">About Jill ~</span></b><br />
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Jill Lynn lives near the
beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children who make her laugh
on a daily basis. She writes the kind of stories she likes to read—ones filled
with humor, grace, and happily ever after. Jill does far more dancing in the
kitchen with her family than she does cooking, and she has a thing for coffee,
books, boots, and thrift stores. Connect with her at <a href="http://jill-lynn.com/">Jill-Lynn.com</a> or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JillLynnAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JillLynnAuthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/jilllynnauthor/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/JillLynnAuthor/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</div>
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<b>My Review
~ 5 Stars!!</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Falling
for Texas</i> had <i>me</i> falling for Texas. Cash's morals, work ethic and the
dedication he shows to his sister had me swooning, and did I mention he's a
cowboy? And Olivia was so relatable. She truly cared about her students and
friends, and I found her inner dilemma to be compelling. This is such a fun
read, but it will have you reaching for the tissues too. A wonderful debut! I'm
adding Jill Lynn to my must-read list!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>**I
received an advanced reader's copy with no obligation to review it. All
opinions are my own.**</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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***</div>
<br />
Enter to win a copy of Jill's book!!<br />
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***</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What commercials made you groan or giggle?? </b></span><br />
<br />
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***</div>
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<br /></div>
Guess what? I have a new <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/" target="_blank">website</a>!! I'm also MOVING my blog over to it. All month you'll find my posts here AND on my new blog <a href="http://jillkemerer.com/blog">jillkemerer.com/blog</a>/. Please hop over and subscribe to my new blog so you won't miss a post. As of March 1, I will no longer be active on this blog but ONLY on my new feed. Thanks!!<br />
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-17014313916915662832015-01-28T07:00:00.000-05:002017-04-05T19:13:26.175-04:00Why I'm Excited to Pay TaxesI recently received a 1099 from my literary agency. I practically skipped back to the house! For years tax time has been something I dread, and not for the usual reasons.<br />
<br />
<br />
My husband and I pay to have our taxes done. We sit down and get all our paperwork laid out. Find the receipts. We answer the questions. And I get sad because I don't contribute financially to our household. Yes, I contribute in countless other ways, but on tax day, I feel like a failure.<br />
<br />
Three years ago I asked the professional about deducting my writing expenses. She didn't recommend it. With no income from my writing, it would increase our chances of being audited. I was okay with that.<br />
<br />
Two years ago, I didn't even ask. I still earned nothing, and I sat there with a sadness in my heart that I'd been working so hard for years with no money to show for it.<br />
<br />
Last year, I earned a small amount for a short story. Finally, I could deduct my business expenses!<br />
<br />
Yeah...well...<br />
<br />
The man helping us raised his eyebrows at my tiny check. He barely looked at my tidy list of expenses, shook his head and said, "Writing is your hobby, right? I mean, you have a full time job."<br />
<br />
I clenched my jaw, my chest burning. "No, writing is my job. I write full time."<br />
<br />
And I could see it--the pity or wow-you-must-not-be-very-good flash in his eyes before he dismissed me. "If you don't make more income than your expenses, the IRS will consider it a hobby."<br />
<br />
I cried all the way home.<br />
<br />
I wasn't crying because he was rude (well, partly so), but because I'd poured years and years of work into something that held<span style="font-size: large;"><b> no value to anyone but me</b></span>. In fact, it<i> <b>cost our family</b></i> for me to spend all that time trying to get published.<br />
<br />
<b>Not everyone incurs the same costs, but <span style="font-size: large;">every writer pays something</span>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Here is what I paid:<br />
<br />
- <b><span style="font-size: large;">Time.</span></b> I could have gotten a full-time job and earned a second income, which would have helped our family tremendously.<br />
<br />
- <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Money. </b></span>I've paid thousands of dollars in equipment, membership dues, office supplies, conference costs, postage, website hosting and other expenses.<br />
<br />
- <b><span style="font-size: large;">Hobbies.</span></b> I gave up most of my free time to pursue this dream. I have busy kids, I manage our household, and I write full time. For me to have time-consuming hobbies, I would have to write less, make my kids give up extracurricular activities they enjoy, or let our house slide.<br />
<br />
So this year, ripping open that tax form was validating beyond words. I don't have to sit through another tax session feeling inferior. I don't have to hear the word "hobby" again. Because finally, finally<b><span style="font-size: large;"> I get to pay taxes for doing what I love!</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What have you given up for a dream? </span></b><br />
<br />
**My website is down. I'm unable to access any email coming to jill@jillkemerer.com this week. My new site will be up again soon. Thanks for your patience!!**<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Be sure to sign up
for my newsletter <a href="http://eepurl.com/f3YzL" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>! All my book news, the latest happenings and some fun
pictures will come to your inbox several times a year. You can unsubscribe at
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<br />Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-35060855802224333882015-01-21T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-21T07:00:01.411-05:00New Year Philosophy: Do! Craft! Share! Guest Johnnie Alexander<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Today we have a special guest blogger, Johnnie Alexander, author of <b><i>Where Treasure Hides</i></b>, and she's sharing a lovely message I'm taking to heart. Join me in welcoming Johnnie!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">New Year Philosophy: Do! Craft! Share!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the weeks approaching January 1<sup>st</sup>, everyone seemed to be talking
about resolutions, goals, and choosing “one word.” Blog posts, loop emails,
Facebook updates, and conversations abounded with <i>shoulds</i> and <i>shouldn’ts</i>,
advice and encouragement, plans and intentions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
like many of you, I made my resolution (more water, more motion), set my goal
(5000 words a week till I type “The End” on my manuscript), and chose my word
(a symbol actually, an acorn, which signifies potential, possibility, hope, and
stability). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
this year, thanks to an answer to prayer, I’m also choosing to embrace a
philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
date is Wednesday, December 17<sup>th</sup>. My faded green sweatshirt is
zipped against the morning’s chill as I watch water gush from the hose into a
watering tank. The alpacas are behind me, comfortably grazing from a large
mound of hay, and assorted chickens scratch in the dirt and squawk at each
other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
a great time for praying, and I’m thinking ahead to this blog post. What can I
say that’s new to those who may be weary of resolutions, goals, and seeking
that one word for the year?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An
hour later, snug in the kitchen and eating my cereal, I read a </span><a href="http://www.stevelaube.com/joy-writers-world"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Joy to the (Writer’s) World! by literary
agent Karen Ball</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.
These words grip my heart:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">“Too often, we writers get so tangled in all the “must dos” that
we lose sight of what’s really important: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Doing the task God has given us</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Crafting words steeped in His truth and spirit</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Sharing the message He’s given us with a weary, terrified world .
. .”</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wise
words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
an answered prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
all, Karen’s advice is timeless, and it isn’t only for writers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
for teachers and salespeople, hardworking moms and dads, those who work with
their hands, and those who sit behind a desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever
our calling, our profession, our career, our ministry, we can <i>do the task</i> we have been given, <i>craft</i> whatever we do so that the One who
gives us our gifts and talents is glorified, and <i>share</i> with those who need what we have to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
year, I encourage you to keep your resolutions, achieve your goals, and focus
on that significant one-word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
I also encourage you to join me in embracing this simple philosophy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Do! Craft!
Share!</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">{A
special thanks to Karen Ball for touching my heart with her words and for her
gracious permission to use them in this post.}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Johnnie, I couldn't agree more! It's easy to get caught up in a crazy I-should-be-doing-this phase. I have a card on my bulletin board that says, "I Write For God." It reminds me not to worry about sales and social media and the perfect book. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks so much for being my guest today, Johnnie!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxlsZ8XOQwcDhJdVRGA9ML5S-mE6yX-3dZNLLoxJPO8733_OqlKoGQMbSuplYMp_USDVqzzguUattkEOrFobe2CkUopSrMZfwve1KjdVIzOJK5YA3zOCuwm-oEZqv4g_DRlGATOvRwPc/s1600/Where-Treasure-Hides-682x1024+new+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxlsZ8XOQwcDhJdVRGA9ML5S-mE6yX-3dZNLLoxJPO8733_OqlKoGQMbSuplYMp_USDVqzzguUattkEOrFobe2CkUopSrMZfwve1KjdVIzOJK5YA3zOCuwm-oEZqv4g_DRlGATOvRwPc/s1600/Where-Treasure-Hides-682x1024+new+cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where Treasure Hides ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Artist
Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery,
determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the
Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only
lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian
Devlin into her life. Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain,
Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out,
separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights
for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find
a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety
is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep
them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is
it their fate to be separated forever?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Where Treasure Hides</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is currently available as an ebook. The print edition releases August 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Interested in purchasing <i>Where</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Treasure Hides? </i>Go to</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Treasure-Hides-ebook/dp/B00AEB3CMS/ref=la_B00AIXZW02_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357771079&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> (linked).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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***</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa4aLqM6WSQrm26Jniy1k7-VCeR8_SPwUuKU1W6v71g0it0Kz6tzjrHQibdo6hLWVoLU7LPhmpbhwa4_SozhOrvJNjDDM7vGwB7zOvrCM0zRe1PDKyWYW1715J-o6sgI-y0deLRULSzw/s1600/Johnnie+Alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa4aLqM6WSQrm26Jniy1k7-VCeR8_SPwUuKU1W6v71g0it0Kz6tzjrHQibdo6hLWVoLU7LPhmpbhwa4_SozhOrvJNjDDM7vGwB7zOvrCM0zRe1PDKyWYW1715J-o6sgI-y0deLRULSzw/s1600/Johnnie+Alexander.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>About Johnnie ~</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Johnnie Alexander </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is the
author of </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where
Treasure Hides</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> which won the ACFW Genesis Contest
(2011 Historical Fiction). The first of her three contemporary romances,
tentatively titled <i>Into a Spacious Place</i>,
releases from Revell in January 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She also has won the Best Novel and Best Writer awards at
the Florida Christian Writers Conference and is a 2012 Bronze Medalist in the
My Book Therapy Frasier Contest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
graduate of Rollins College (Orlando) with a Master of Liberal Studies degree,
Johnnie lives in the Memphis area with a small herd of alpacas, her dogs Rugby
and Skye, and assorted other animals. Visit Johnnie’s </span><a href="http://www.johnnie-alexander.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blog</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JohnnieAlexanderDonley"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facebook</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/johnnie_alexndr"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Twitter</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you get caught up worrying about things you <i>should</i> do?</span></b></div>
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Have a terrific day!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-47275492078607737052015-01-19T08:59:00.000-05:002017-04-05T19:14:17.735-04:00Pardon My MessAll January I've been working on a new website. I'm starting the transfer process this week, and most of my current website will be disabled. My blog will still be functioning on Wednesday when I have a terrific guest lined up, so be sure to stop by then!<br />
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It feels good to "clean" my cyber home. I cleaned out our hall closet, my bedroom closet and my entire office recently too.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you get hit by the organizing bug this time of year?</b></span></div>
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Thank you! Hope you're having a wonderful January so far!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-7091383587803713482015-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-14T08:52:25.312-05:00Dreaming of a White Christmas: Guest Marion Ueckermann<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Marion Ueckermann</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">!</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 130%;">DREAMING
OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For eight months, hubby and I had been planning a trip to Budapest and
Finland to visit my son, Kyle, and his wife, Tiia. I’d finally have a white
Christmas and experience the flipside of the location of my novelette, <b><i>Helsinki
Sunrise</i></b>, which takes place during a Finnish summer. We’d have snowball
fights, build snowmen, and experience Christmas the Finnish way. How different
this would all be to the mid-summer South African Christmases. You can therefore
imagine my disappointment when Kyle sent this photograph two days before our
departure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What? No snow? I quickly changed the tune I’d been singing from <i>I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas</i> to <i>Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow</i>. “Don’t
panic,” I told myself, “first stop is Budapest—there’s still a week before we
get to Finland.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After six fun-filled days in Budapest, we flew to Helsinki, arriving at
midnight. Little snow could be seen. Only a tiny patch here and there. Sigh…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As Finland was having a ‘warm’ winter with temperatures only just below
freezing and not way below freezing, Tiia decided we’d go directly to Lapland,
home of Santa Claus, and spend a few days there before heading back south to her
parents for Christmas and New Year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We had barely reached the outskirts of Helsinki when snowflakes began to
fall. It snowed the entire ten hour journey to Lapland. By the time we reached
our cottage in the middle of nowhere, we had SNOW! Thick, glorious snow!</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lapland was fabulous. We were introduced to Glögi—a warm, spiced, fruity
drink. One word—yummy! We took walks in the snow and managed to make a snowman,
even though the snow wasn’t snowman-making snow. But we knew little then about
the different textures of snow. There were times, though, when I doubted the
white shapes on the ground would become a snowman—they looked more like some
anemic form of African art. With the help of a pot of water, it all came
together, and we had a snowman which we named Olaf. Yes, I know, not very
original, but my grandson had to relate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We had hoped to see the Northern Lights while in Lapland, but weren’t
that fortunate. We did see another Christmas skies phenomenon, although this
one hadn’t taken to the heavens yet. When a friend saw this photograph on my
Facebook banner, she said, “…you look like a little girl who can't believe she’s
meeting Santa.” To be honest, I actually felt like that, and at fifty-four, it
was still a great feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">With my Santa list delivered direct to the man in red, and the sights,
smells, sounds, tastes and touch of Christmas filling our senses, we couldn’t
wait to experience a Finnish Christmas with Tiia’s family in Lehtimäki, about halfway
between Santa’s hometown, Rovaneimi, in the north and Helsinki in the south.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When December dawns in South Africa, our fake Christmas tree is dusted,
clipped together and decorated; Christmas stockings are hung; and the front
door’s adorned with the beautiful wreath we’d bought over a decade ago in
Ireland. However, except for the abundance of outdoor Christmas lights hanging
on houses, trees, bushes…anywhere…everywhere…sparkling against the snow, it
didn’t look anything like Christmas indoors when we arrived in Lehtimäki and it
was already December 21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Two days later, while out walking in the snow and on the frozen lake
with Tiia’s family, her dad pointed out a small tree growing close to the river
near their house. Excited, he said something unintelligible to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Our Christmas tree for this year,” Tiia translated. “We’ll cut it down
later.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Noel and I couldn’t wait. Neither could Kyle. He was so anxious for us
to experience the new culture he’d married into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Noel and Kyle were given the honor of cutting the tree. It stood outside
overnight and was placed on its stand in the lounge the next day—Christmas Eve.
Then the decorating began and we all added a little. Despite the fact it seemed
such a small tree when rooted in the snow, I was surprised when the top touched
the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Christmas dinner was big, like at home, except where we always cook
turkey and gammon, in Finland we had the biggest leg of cooked ham I’d ever
seen. But, families are big in Finland. There must have been at least
twenty-four with children for Christmas dinner (and that didn’t include all the
family). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After dinner we sat in the lounge beside the tree and sang songs while Kyle
played the saxophone. Tiia’s father then gave a short sermon in Finnish,
translated by his daughters for the non-Finnish speakers (and that included
some other sons-in-law, too). One of the teens read the Christmas story from
the Bible—a Finnish tradition. After all the gifts were opened, a lot of which
were home-made (a tradition we really liked), each person had to tell what
they’d received and from whom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We will definitely implement a lot of new things to Christmas 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our first white Christmas was one that will stay in our memories
forever. But as much as we had so many awesome experiences in Finland and
Budapest, two of my favorites were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">opening the box of author order only print copies of my first novelette,
Helsinki Sunrise, that I had delivered to Finland so I could give a copy to
each of Tiia’s siblings and her parents for Christmas gifts (after all, it’s my
son and their daughter/sister on the cover);</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">and being greeted at the airport by these two little faces when we
returned to South Africa.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Marion, I loved reading of your experience in Finland! I'm used to snow at Christmas, but when we don't get it, it's always a bit sad. I'm sure the traditions and special time you spent with Kyle and Tiia's family will stay in your heart forever. Congratulations on your new release and thank you for being my guest!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JDXjyzlq21cLTzBlCxFqqf7y83L0lBM6oIzP7xS3wzqvUEsmipSoNXvK6L8Ob8ZQePChd-aSFMOj0mRTGHyz7sOTtgGX-Pia_L8p969jKbWuyrUbMeBDEHF57pAbe0DI2fIeHvuHe0M/s1600/HelsinkiSunrise_w11668_680+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JDXjyzlq21cLTzBlCxFqqf7y83L0lBM6oIzP7xS3wzqvUEsmipSoNXvK6L8Ob8ZQePChd-aSFMOj0mRTGHyz7sOTtgGX-Pia_L8p969jKbWuyrUbMeBDEHF57pAbe0DI2fIeHvuHe0M/s1600/HelsinkiSunrise_w11668_680+(2).jpg" height="400" width="243" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b>Helsinki Sunrise ~</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He needed the island to himself. So did she.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Three weeks alone at
a friend’s summer cottage on a Finnish lake to fast and pray. That was Adam
Carter's plan. But sometimes plans go awry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">On an impromptu trip
to her family's secluded summer cottage, the last thing Eveliina Mikkola
expected to find was a missionary from the other side of the world—in her
sauna.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Determined to stay,
Eveliina will do whatever it takes—from shortcrust pastry to shorts—to send the
man of God packing. This island’s too small for them both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adam Carter, however,
is not about to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Will he be able to
resist her temptations? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Can she withstand his
prayers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">*** </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Helsinki Sunrise</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> is available to purchase from <a href="http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67">Pelican
Book Group</a>, <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/helsinki-sunrise-novella-ebook/marion-ueckermann/9781611163803/pd/67973EB?event=ESRCG">Christianbook.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Helsinki-Sunrise-Passport-Romance-Ueckermann-ebook/dp/B00MQK1TES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408862471&sr=8-1&keywords=helsinki+sunrise">Amazon</a>,
and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/helsinki-sunrise-marion-ueckermann/1120181683?ean=2940150510746">Barnes
& Noble</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;">Watch
the </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siSdYlfkipY"><b><i>Helsinki
Sunrise</i></b></a> book trailer on
YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes;">Watch
the </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HN3CgDoPm0">Passport to Romance</a> book trailer
on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>About Marion ~</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Marion
Ueckermann’s</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she
moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published
devotional articles and stories in <i>Winners</i>,
<i>The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laugh</i>ter
(Tyndale House Publishers), <i>Chicken Soup
for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven</i>, and her debut novelette, <b><i>Helsinki
Sunrise</i></b> (White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport
to Romance series). Her second Passport to Romance, <b><i>Oslo Overtures</i></b>, will be
published in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Marion blogs for <a href="http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/">International
Christian Fiction Writers</a> and <a href="http://beautyforashes.co.za/">Beauty
for Ashes</a>. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American
Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an empty
nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Connect with Marion
Ueckermann:<b> </b></span><a href="http://www.marionueckermann.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Website</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> / </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KBYLU7C" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazon</a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">/</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Marion.C.Ueckermann" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Facebook</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">/ </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ueckie" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Twitter</a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">/</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ueckie/" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pinterest</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blogs: <a href="http://apebbleinmypocket.com/">A Pebble in my Pocket</a> / <a href="http://foreignaffaire.com/">Foreign Affaire</a><u><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Permission
to use images obtained.</i></span><span style="display: none; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I always love reading about how other people celebrate holidays. Let's go back to Marion's question--</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are some of your favorite memories?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Thanks so much for stopping by!</span></div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-4301747104318194562015-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-09T07:00:00.632-05:00The Weekend Resolutions DieFor years I made resolutions each January. I had big goals, and I had plenty of them! One I made over and over was to get healthier. I would make a detailed outline of exactly how I would lose weight, fit better in my jeans and glow with health.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN2yGND2XuHPmpVSnzwJ88cRS4cczglVrBIU-2TwdMV4_C2fLNKk_3Ny_NKAbb36MRX1fM4LjY4j9Tv3QFE5XzQln7jdSBuo-tJmSHjmzuKCmSq-CpxoJBewnxQxfkw-aQ2LPrjgisfo/s1600/The+Weekend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN2yGND2XuHPmpVSnzwJ88cRS4cczglVrBIU-2TwdMV4_C2fLNKk_3Ny_NKAbb36MRX1fM4LjY4j9Tv3QFE5XzQln7jdSBuo-tJmSHjmzuKCmSq-CpxoJBewnxQxfkw-aQ2LPrjgisfo/s1600/The+Weekend.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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In 2000, I followed Marilu Henner's plan for a solid three months. Talk about difficult! It was so restrictive--it exhausted me. I never did get that clear skin and unstoppable energy she raved about. In fact, I'd say it was the worst I'd felt in years.<br />
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I've counted calories, tried various workouts and enjoyed the burst of hope each time I started a new plan. But eventually, the health kick motivation faded, and I returned to my old habits. Often it faded in one week.<br />
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Yes, this weekend, the second in January, is the weekend resolutions will die. Mine did many times.<br />
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I stopped making grandiose resolutions seven years ago. I was tired. Tired of getting my hopes up only to fail. And I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I was in pretty good shape anyhow. I've always stayed active even without a master plan. I'm not at the weight I want to be, but I'm not setting myself up to fail anymore.<br />
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In December a few friends and I started drinking lots of water. Some of us drink a gallon a day. I aim for 3 liters, which is 3/4 of a gallon. I figure ONE good habit is doable. Believe it or not, I feel better drinking all that water, and it pushed me to exercise more often.<br />
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It's fine to improve my life as long as I don't fall into the trap of perfection. Flat abs are nice but not necessary for happiness. We need to enjoy each day as much as possible, whatever our weight!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Did you make a resolution this year? Do you see yourself continuing after this weekend?</b></span><br />
<br />
Stay warm out there!!<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
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<br />Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-83648535518798472942015-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-07T07:00:00.978-05:00Writer's Life: Patricia Johns<div class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Welcome to another edition of Writer's Life, my interview series with authors of inspirational romance. Today, I'm hosting the lovely and super-talented Patricia Johns!! Patricia and I are Facebook buddies, and I'm thrilled to be her Love Inspired buddy now too! Her new book, <b><i>The Rancher's City Girl</i></b>, released January 1! Congratulations, Patricia!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Let's get to it!</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. What about writing makes your
heart sing?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I love spinning tales! I'm the
kind of person who can make a story out of a trip to the grocery store, so
storytelling has always been a part of my makeup. But sitting down and writing
a story from scratch, that's pure bliss!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. What is the biggest hurdle
you're facing right now as a writer?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Right now, my biggest hurdle
is keeping myself to a daily schedule. I promised my family that I would write
during my business hours, and then be there for them during evenings and
weekends. I've been very good about it, and my family loves it, but it's not
easy. It's hard to be disciplined in NOT writing during down time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. What do you do to fill your
creative well?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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I read. It's a treat to sit
down with a murder mystery or a historical novel about the Tudors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. What are you working on now?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Right now, I'm plotting a
historical series that I'd like to pitch to my editor next. It's taking a lot
of research and thought, but I think this one is going to be my best so far!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The schedule is always a problem, isn't it, Patricia? I made the same promise to my family. It's difficult to keep sometimes...unless I'm writing the first fifty pages of a new book--those are really challenging for me. Then I'm glad to have the no-nights-or-weekends rule! Haha! Murder mysteries? Perfect! I started reading Agatha Christie novels last year, and I am hooked. They're a fun escape from my daily romance fix. Speaking of fixes...ooh-la-la, love your cover!</div>
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<b><span lang="EN-CA">The Rancher's City Girl ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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When Cory Stone discovers the father he never met is gravely
ill, he brings the ornery man to his Montana ranch, along with his
round-the-clock nurse. Once again Cory finds himself falling for the wrong
woman—a city slicker, like the ex-fiancée who broke his heart. But in Eloise
LeBlanc, Cory also finds a kindred spirit. The caring beauty knows firsthand
about love and loss. Neither of them is looking for a new romance, and Cory
certainly isn't searching for love. But can the independent city girl heal the
heart of a broken cowboy?<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ranchers-City-Girl-Love-Inspired-ebook/dp/B00LZCTE5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416243580&sr=8-1&keywords=patricia+johns+%22the+rancher%27s+city+girl%22" target="_blank"><b><i>The Rancher's City Girl</i> here</b></a>!</div>
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<b>About Patricia ~<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Patricia Johns began her writing career with a degree in English Literature and a tiny apartment in a bad part of town. She took her starving artist days seriously and quit her sensible full time job in favor of part time gigs, much to her parents' horror. It paid off, however, with her first published novel. That was more than ten years ago, and in the meantime, she has written several novels in other genres, but has always longed to write Harlequin romance. Her dream came true with her first release in July, 2013. This is her second Love Inspired release, with a third scheduled to come out in May 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">You can find her on <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaJohnsAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b>, where she's always thrilled to meet up with other book lovers. </span>You can also find her on her <a href="http://patriciajohnsromance.com./" target="_blank"><b>blog</b></a>, where she posts about her life and the romances she concocts: http://patriciajohnsromance.com.</div>
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***</div>
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Thank you so much for being my guest today, Patricia!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Since it's the first week of January and we're talking about the woes of the daily schedule, please share your best tip for time management!</span></b></div>
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Have a great day!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-35218831429840804732015-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:002015-01-05T10:43:25.551-05:00One Word for 2015This is the first time in years I've gotten through the holidays and felt energized and excited. We had almost a week of downtime at home, and it made a huge difference in my attitude. I'm more than ready to tackle my to-do list this January! But first, I'm sharing my one word for the year.<br />
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This is my fourth year of praying for one word. In mid-December I began praying for God to lead me to a word to focus on in 2015. Within a short time one started flashing to me, but I didn't fully trust it, so I prayed off and on for another week. That word wouldn't go away!<br />
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My previous words were Peace, Trust, and Dream. I was a little scared of the word "victory." What if I got my hopes up too much and relied on victories that God never intended? Or what if it made me feel entitled? Self-absorbed? Arrogant?<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to hear "struggle" as my word! We all have enough of that, don't we?. :) But hearing a good word can be just as daunting.<br />
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I always search for a Bible passage to memorize and cling to throughout the year. The one I found gave me reassurance.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."</b></span><br />
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Once I read it, my worries disappeared. All of our victories are <b><i>through our Lord Jesus Christ.</i></b><br />
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What a wonderful truth. Everything we do and have are through Jesus. These simple words took a load off my shoulders. One of my goals in 2015 is to continue the practice of reading two chapters of the Bible each morning before prayer. It centers me, reassures me, keeps my anxieties at a lower level. If I go too many days in a row without this time with the Lord, I get nervous and twitchy. It's not good.<br />
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If you're starting the new year on empty with a list of goals a mile long, I urge you to rest a few hours, or an entire day, if possible. I needed a few days away from the daily grind. It refreshed me in the best possible way.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have you ever tried focusing on one word for the year? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you'd like to try it, spend time in prayer and try not to be in a hurry. It usually takes me more than a week until I'm certain of my word. </b></span><br />
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Happy 2015!!<br />
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<br />Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-11750374442768328402014-12-22T10:02:00.002-05:002014-12-22T10:02:16.794-05:00Cover Art for Small-Town Bachelor!My dog just took a drink from my coffee mug. Yuck. Now I have to rinse it out and get a new cup!<br />
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Anyway, I'm sitting in my living room on a gorgeous, sunny winter day. It's almost Christmas. I have a to-do list six miles long, but we're on break, and I'm relaxing for an hour.<br />
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This year has been full of ups and downs, and lately there have been some shiny bright spots I'm thrilled to share!!<br />
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1. My second book has an official title: <b><i>Unexpected Family</i></b>! It will be released September 2015 through Harlequin Love Inspired!<br />
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2. My first book, <b><i><span id="goog_279913496"></span>Small-Town Bachelor<span id="goog_279913497"></span></i></b> has a cover AND is officially up for preorder on most retail sites!<span id="goog_279913474"></span><br />
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3. The short story and recipe collection, <b><i>A Recipe for Romance</i></b>, by twenty-two Love Inspired authors is available now and climbed the Amazon charts the first week it was on sale!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only $2.99 on Kindle! And all royalties go to children's charities! </td></tr>
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For some reason Blogger isn't allowing me to add links today. I'll try to get them up later. In the meantime, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!! And I'll see you back here after the new year!<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have pets? Do they try to drink your coffee??</b></span></div>
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<b>Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!</b></div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-71722418465977313042014-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:002017-04-05T19:15:17.857-04:00My Week of Delusional ThinkingI had big plans for this week. I love when I get in delusional mode! I get all this energy.<br />
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On Sunday, I really believed that all week I would overhaul my website and finish shopping and start baking. Easy-peasy!<br />
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Well, everything that could go wrong with my website did, causing me to spend hours trying to fix the bugs. (I learned a lot about webhosts, Wordpress, plug-in problems and a slew of other website glitches! There will be a blog post about it in the future.) I'm now estimating a month before it's finished. But I'm excited because all the wrong turns led me to make a firm decision about what I wanted. </div>
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And the shopping? I spent hours at the indoor mall, then a strip mall, a few superstores, and an outdoor mall. It took about three times as long as I allotted, but I am done! </div>
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The baking didn't happen as planned either, but we do have a batch of peanut blossoms, and I'm pretty happy about that. </div>
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To offset the craziness, I went to a cute restaurant for snacks and cocktails with friends last night. There's something therapeutic about chatting with people in similar life patterns. We all have children the same ages, and we're all working moms. Plus it gave me an excuse to wear my sparkly shirt and wear lipstick. I had a great time!</div>
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Seven years ago I lived in a strange state and often drove to the supermarket disoriented. I would think, <i>am I really here?</i> That Christmas season was difficult. I went through the motions, and I have good memories of the holiday, but I also remember not really feeling much.</div>
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This year I'm feeling everything, and it's good!<br />
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I'm all over the place--frustrated to tears because I had to download Wordpress four times, my theme refusing to work. Or standing in front of a display for thirty minutes trying to pick the best color of a gift, worrying it won't be loved, only to return it two hours later. And then taking a break to hum Christmas carols as I rolled cookie dough into balls and unwrapped Hershey kisses at the speed of light.</div>
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Yes, I might be delusional, but I'm excited, and that's the best feeling! </div>
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Today I'll cram in way more than I can chew, and at the end of the day I'll laugh because none of my efforts came close to what I hoped. That's how life is. And to me, that's part of faith. Embracing the fact I'm not perfect--not even close--and laughing because God wouldn't love me more if I was! </div>
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If you're beating yourself up about the Christmas rush, take a deep breath and smile. Just smile. It feels good, doesn't it?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What do you get delusional about this time of year?</span></b></div>
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Have a wonderful weekend!!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-33761155603414544582014-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-17T07:41:14.483-05:00How to Stay Sane During the Holiday Season: Guest Alexis A. Goring<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s known to be the “most wonderful time of the
year”, but if you’re anything like most Americans during this time of
year—especially Americans who are hosting their entire family in their house
for Christmas dinner—you are <i>stressed</i>.
You’re running around from store to store, hoping to be done with Christmas
shopping only to find out you need more: More gifts, more food, more greeting cards,
more money and more <i>time</i>! Your life
around this time of year may look more like a tailspin than <i> It’s
A Wonderful Life</i> (classic Christmas movie) and maybe, just <i>maybe</i> you’re hoping to be through with
it all so that life can be a little less hectic and you can breathe again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am here today to gently encourage you with this
Bible-based wisdom which is, “Be still and know that God is God” (Psalm 46:10).
Based on Scripture, this timeless truth which is also a song by Christian
contemporary artist Steven Curtis Chapman, can give you quiet and lasting
relief from the hectic holiday season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does it mean to “be still and know”? I believe
to every person, it may mean something different but to me, it means that in
the middle of the crazy, God’s love, majesty and promises to protect, keep and
deliver us are still good and true. Ultimately, it means that spending time
with God every day is important for me because He is my Rock and to spend time
in prayer and study of His Word (The Holy Bible) is priceless because it is in
those devotional moments that I find my peace in the midst of the crazy. It’s
where my soul is soothed and my mind is calmed as God gives me a peace that as
the Bible says, “passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Try it and see
what I mean—people will be completely <i>amazed</i>
at how you can keep it all together and be so calm this holiday season,
especially if you’re married with kids and hosting your entire family for
dinner on Christmas Day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you take my advice to “be still” and “know” that
God is God every day this holiday season, I’d like to know how it turns out for
you! I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to survive this hectic time of year if you
start your day with God in sincere devotional time with Him. Perhaps you can
revisit Jill’s blog after New Year’s Day and leave a few comments on my guest
post here to let me know how it went! I’d love to hear your stories of how God
kept you sane, happy and blessed this holiday season all because you took time
to “be still” and “know” that He is God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">May God bless you, keep you and protect you today,
tomorrow and forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;">I needed this message today, Alexis! Monday morning was hectic with a capital H, but when I took ten minutes to pray, the day got a lot better! I love the Bible references you used. My "one word" this year was PEACE, and I find I'm needing it more than ever as the holidays approach. Thank you so much for being my guest today!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21.4666652679443px;"><b>About Alexis ~</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alexis A. Goring is a college
graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University
in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories
will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose
love for humanity is unfailing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alexis loves connecting with her
readers! Follow Alexis on Twitter @pennedbyalex, “Like” her Author page on
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring" target="_blank"><b>Facebook</b></a>, visit her official website, <a href="http://www.alexisagoring.com/">http://www.alexisagoring.com/</a>
and read her blog, “<a href="http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">God is Love</a>.”</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Be Still” as
performed by Steven Curtis Chapman, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*Lyrics to “Be Still” song, <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/be-still-know-lyrics-steven-curtis-chapman.html">http://www.metrolyrics.com/be-still-know-lyrics-steven-curtis-chapman.html</a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><b>How do YOU stay sane during the holiday season?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have a terrific day!!</span><br />
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-57936107632466391562014-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-12T07:30:01.684-05:00Jody Hedlund's Lighthouse Research<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I'm bursting at the seams to share this post today! First of all, I adore lighthouses! Secondly, I'm a huge fan of Jody Hedlund's inspirational historical romances. And thirdly, Jody shared EXCLUSIVE pictures AND is giving away a copy of her new book, <b><i>Love Unexpected</i></b>!! I loved this book. My review is below!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Let's get to it!!</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Jody, you
took a research trip to Presque Isle Lighthouse this summer. Did anything
surprise you about lighthouses and their keepers? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During that particular research
trip, I visited 3 lighthouses including the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (which
is the one that I used in the book). I learned a LOT about lighthouses from
visiting them, and a few things did take me by surprise, especially regarding
the physical aspects of lighthouses: the steepness and narrowness of the spiral
stairway, the small space of the lantern room, the simplicity of the tower, and
the stunning view from the top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I began to learn more about the
keepers, I think the thing that surprised me most was how isolated they were.
They had to work long, hard hours and could go days, even weeks without having
contact with other people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>A few pictures of the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse:</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAeh6Q5BzI_sjPjCpg4qvug0PtaVwjLgiEw4BOtRKQBgQWR8ChpkEvUXq6EmQ70QCbFTG6ds3UcFOGsnBHY-QVRJGoyDYNdnEKcrzCXCgfPg195k4KJtmVoI9mRMAFbiv-pxHLgMokyY/s1600/Old+Presque+Isle+Lighthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAeh6Q5BzI_sjPjCpg4qvug0PtaVwjLgiEw4BOtRKQBgQWR8ChpkEvUXq6EmQ70QCbFTG6ds3UcFOGsnBHY-QVRJGoyDYNdnEKcrzCXCgfPg195k4KJtmVoI9mRMAFbiv-pxHLgMokyY/s1600/Old+Presque+Isle+Lighthouse.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. What
was your favorite thing about the trip?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love nature and hiking. And so
because lighthouses tend to be in remote places, I've always enjoyed hiking out
to the lighthouse, walking along the beaches, and taking lots of pictures. My
mom has come along with me on all of my lighthouse trips, and I've had lots of
fun being able to do this with her and creating some special memories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6xudgqHQcWjbytrEuRb3Gj45_GROdYS4kAjs75DlEprMxUp3zoagqcdoTshmfOZYkOV8xpgbqrjiT3_KHtdYkH5nrf-_28R1aysPB0lJOUZ7xzNTzvMFiUaBXTfgh9CfT6yys8wLlC8/s1600/GEDC1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6xudgqHQcWjbytrEuRb3Gj45_GROdYS4kAjs75DlEprMxUp3zoagqcdoTshmfOZYkOV8xpgbqrjiT3_KHtdYkH5nrf-_28R1aysPB0lJOUZ7xzNTzvMFiUaBXTfgh9CfT6yys8wLlC8/s1600/GEDC1812.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A memorial to the real Patrick Garrity.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jody's daughter with a statue of Patrick Garrity!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jody's adorable daughter hugging the lantern inside the lantern room!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioag0_4x4msu59iL_pEkGkfJ0u6z_9JIg4pVhUaI3CxQ7Ah7wSAOwk9bvNEOjnv5t3X82_YjU00zTpzzJnunT7CKDL7YHn8mYWiuB3Iku0s3bq_Dc6lfxAaPnxY53gME29NjwkQVQaq5U/s1600/GEDC1794.JPG" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The narrow staircase of the lighthouse!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Where
will your next lighthouse books take place?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My second lighthouse book, <i>Hearts Made Whole</i>, is set at Windmill
Point which is in Grosse Point, Michigan. At the time of the story, Windmill
Point Lighthouse was in a remote marshy area on Lake St. Clair, a rural area
that was about six miles north of Detroit (which at that time wasn't the
sprawling metropolis that it is today). The original Windmill Point Lighthouse
is no longer there and has instead been replaced by a smaller memorial version
in the midst of park. And of course, the area now is very urban and developed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My third lighthouse book takes place
at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse in the far northern part of Michigan on Lake
Superior. I had the privilege of staying in the assistant keeper's cottage
there at the lighthouse for a week this past summer. It was divine, but also
gave me a taste for the cooler weather of the north!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shores of Lake Huron! *swoon*</td></tr>
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When I read <b><i>Love Unexpected</i></b>, I enjoyed the historical details as much as the story. They really fascinated me, and I could picture the scenes so vividly! Your research trips sound amazing, especially the Eagle Harbor one. A week on Lake Michigan? Yes! I'm excited to read the rest of the series. Thanks so much for being my guest today!</div>
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<b><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1859<br />
Presque Isle, Michigan</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">What
Is the Secret That Could Shipwreck Both of Their Lives?<br />
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
All Emma Chambers ever wanted was a home, but when her steamboat sinks just
outside Presque Isle, she’s left destitute and with no place to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An unlikely solution arises when the lighthouse keeper
arrives in town. He’s just lost his wife and is having a difficult time caring
for his child. So a traveling preacher gets the idea that the keeper and Emma
might be the answer to each other’s dilemma. After a hasty marriage, she finds
herself heading to the lighthouse with this handsome but quiet stranger.
Nothing in her aimless life, though, has prepared her for parenting a
rambunctious toddler, as well as managing a household.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Emma soon suspects Patrick may be hiding something from her,
and then she hears a disturbing rumor about the circumstances surrounding his
late wife’s death. It seems as if her wish for a home and family of her own
could end up leading her once more into turbulent waters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>About Jody ~ </b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jody
Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical
romances for both adults and teens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; font-stretch: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; outline: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As a busy mama-writer, she has the
wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between
grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of
laundry and washes dishes. When she’s not busy being a mama, you can find her
in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She loves reading almost as much as
she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jody has graciously offered to give away one copy of <b><i>Love Unexpected </i></b>to one of my readers! Just enter your email address in a comment below for a chance to win!<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">Contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Winner will be randomly selected from the comments on Monday, December 15 and notified via email the following week.</i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever toured a lighthouse? If you could, would you stay in a lighthouse keeper's home for a week?</span></b><br />
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Have a wonderful weekend!!<i> </i><br />
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-34978390416967931512014-12-10T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-10T07:00:04.214-05:00Keep It Sincerely Simple: Guest Davalynn Spencer<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Davalynn Spencer!</i></div>
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Do you ever wish you could banish the blitz of Christmas? The
gotta-have-it, get-it-here marketing onslaught is enough to make a Scrooge of
nearly anyone. What happened to the Christmas KISS? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Keep
It Sincerely Simple</i> </h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Families today have come so far from more humble times when
Christmas giving might have meant an orange and peppermint candy in a
youngster’s stocking, a special dinner with roasted game, or songs led by a
brave soul with a fiddle and the Christmas story read by candle light.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes I think I’d like to pool all our money earmarked
for presents and spend it on a mountain hide-away in the luxury of simplicity.
Another option could be giving it all to a local charity—as I was privileged to
witness one year at our church. A family with four grown children brought in bulging
envelopes stuffed with money they’d saved and gave it to the church’s
water-well project. Their faces reflected a wealth of return from their giving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the last several years, our eight-member family (not
counting kiddos) has put a price limit on gifts and exchanged names. Rather
than buying gifts for everyone, we each buy one. It has become quite a
tradition, and as the official name exchanger, I receive phone calls and texts
from family members starting in November asking whose name they have! Guess you
know what I’m busy doing while stuffing turkey and baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving
dinner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I recall my best Christmas memories, they never involve
the gifts I received, though I garnered just as many as most children. The
treasures I hold in my heart include the year my mother nailed our tree to the
floor because she couldn’t get it to stand up straight. Or the year our Jack
Russell terrier “anointed” the tree before we brought it inside. The smell of
clove-studded oranges and the way cloud-like divinity candy melted on my
tongue. My husband reading the second chapter of Luke to our children, and the
year I gave a secret gift to a needy family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As an author who loves Christmas stories, I took literary
license and dispensed with all but the essentials of the season in my upcoming
Christmas novella.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My heroine faces the holiday with no money to buy presents
for the very important people in her life. No malls, internet, or last minute
shopping in 1885 on a snowbound ranch in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. But oh,
how I loved the feel of a home-made Christmas that wrapped around me while I
wrote the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Options for Christmas giving are endless, and more
meaningful, I believe, if we can avoid modern commercialism. After all, God
nestled His gift in a feed trough, not a palace garden or courtyard. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This year as you give, open your heart to hear from the
Giver of every good and perfect gift. Maybe He has a surprise in store, a
lovely Christmas kiss He’d like you to help Him deliver.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What a beautiful post, Davalynn! I grew up reading the Little House books and The Bobbsey Twins. Both series featured homespun Christmases, and they had a big effect on my attitude. Simpler Christmases are special! Thank you so much for sharing the joy of Christmas with us today!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BrCyYi71l6rRX4zUcUEXajfzTyW4l7WWKMKI-cE8VTVAHFc2fWh2c9aqVe6BEDsbmRhbrufkr8SfqXZeCgcZNxSL4C5Z7jVvUT1BjQTCv6aJ4tn9ihnohuZamsIng_PTZi7Hxjh2CXA/s1600/DCS+2014_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BrCyYi71l6rRX4zUcUEXajfzTyW4l7WWKMKI-cE8VTVAHFc2fWh2c9aqVe6BEDsbmRhbrufkr8SfqXZeCgcZNxSL4C5Z7jVvUT1BjQTCv6aJ4tn9ihnohuZamsIng_PTZi7Hxjh2CXA/s1600/DCS+2014_3.jpeg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b>About Davalyn ~ </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Davalynn Spencer writes cowboy romance, a skill she’s honed
since marrying a professional rodeo bullfighter and raising another. Her most
recent title is “The Snowbound Bride,” one of twelve historical novellas in
Barbour’s collection, <i>The 12 Brides of
Christmas.</i> She is represented by Linda S. Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency
and makes her home on Colorado’s Front Range with her handsome cowboy and their
Queensland heeler named Blue. Connect with Davalynn on her website, Facebook
page, Goodreads, and Twitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Snowbound Bride ~<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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On the run from a heartless uncle, Arabella Taube hides in
Nate Horne’s buckboard just as a blizzard sweeps into Colorado. Can she find
her way out of the storm—physically and emotionally—or will the handsome
mountain horseman steal her heart?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Purchase The Snowbound Bride from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NVZW7NE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00NVZW7NE&linkCode=as2&tag=barbbook-20&linkId=OP33BYTTXDPV52SL" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=The++Snowbound+Bride%2C+Davalynn+Spencer&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">Christianbooks</a>, or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-snowbound-bride-davalynn-spencer/1120404304?ean=9781630584849" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you keep Christmas simple? What is your favorite tradition?</span></b></div>
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Have a wonderful day!!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-47573544497929488852014-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-05T07:28:10.676-05:00Writer's Life: Candice Sue Patterson<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome to another edition of Writer's Life, my interview series with authors of inspirational romance. Today I have the pleasure of hosting Candice Sue Patterson! Candice and I met online through ACFW, and I'm so happy to have her here! She has two beautiful Christmas novellas published through White Rose Press (Pelican Book Group), and she's graciously giving away a copy of her Christmas novella, <i><b>Silver White Winters</b></i>. Enter the contest below!<br />
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<b>Let's get to it!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>1. </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What
about writing makes your heart sing?</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Writing is therapeutic for me. I’m
an emotional person, I feel deeply, and writing is an outlet for all that
craziness.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> I love creating
three-dimensional characters who face real issues and learn lasting lessons.
One thing about writing that surprises me the most is that I learn something
through the story, whether it’s realizing that I’m struggling with the same
hurdle as the characters or discovering something about myself I never knew
before. God truly speaks to me through my writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 107%;">What
is the biggest hurdle you’re facing right now as a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Knowing what direction to take
next. Do I continue to stay at home and write full-time, or work a part-time
job now that our youngest is reaching school age? Things like that. I’m also
seeking an agent right now, which takes patience. Something I’m not great at. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3.</span> </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What
do you do to fill your creative well?</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I read! Inspirational romance is my
favorite genre, but I also read historical fiction and non-fiction,
biographies, and non-fiction on subjects I’ve always wanted to learn about.
This sparks ideas for new stories and causes me to reflect on my own life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>4. </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What
are you working on now?</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m currently seeking a publisher
for a novel I’ve been writing over the last two years set in coastal Maine. In
the meantime, I’m working on the first draft of the next novel in the series. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Thank you so much for being my guest today, Candice! I completely understand about not knowing which direction to take. I reviewed all my options several times over the years. I hope you find your path soon! And I love that you grow with your stories. I do too. I'm often surprised by the spiritual applications that pop up!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b>About Candace ~</b></span></div>
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Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s
Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She
lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse
overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or
decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes contemporary
romance with threads of nostalgia. Her debut novella <i>Bright Copper Kettles </i>is available now. Connect with Candice on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Candice-Sue-Patterson-Author-Page/420360958035447" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/candicesue_patt" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7389574.Candice_Sue_Patterson" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_46&products_id=629" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRKRJLDk78rv4q6lX65Uc2s5VCzVs7E_0IExmgwO42tDRzRl9bQFKuclpmGv-zrpeiEJ4OW-OiXIJ27kNVGau_CiFyk42T60vGCE32n3uWAbrzPC5de9LWeWkuJnxAjEDMydkEjiJuYI/s1600/Silver+White+Winters.JPG" height="320" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the book above to purchase through Pelican Book Group! Other merchants linked below.</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%;">Silver White Winters ~</b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">She thought she had it all. Until she discovered
the treasures in the snow.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Country music singer/songwriter
Raelynn Rivers is a has-been. According to the latest gossip magazines, that
is. Her last number-one hit was six years ago, and her songwriting ability has
vanished. Her foundering career is all she has left, and she’s determined to
once again hold the title of “Country Music Queen.” But Raelynn’s dreams are
derailed when a coal mine collapses in her home town of Eve Hollow, West
Virginia, trapping her daddy and brother inside.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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The man in charge of the mine rescue is Lane Ryan, her childhood best friend
and the former fiancé she abandoned twelve years ago for her career. In the
snow-covered mountains of Appalachia, Raelynn reconnects with family and
rediscovers her musical abilities—and her faith. And no one has inspired her
more than Lane. She’s finally ready for a relationship, but the secret Lane
carries around is as big as Coal Mountain.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Will Raelynn sacrifice her title, or say goodbye to Lane forever? </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u>Available Now!!</u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silver-white-winters-candice-sue-patterson/1120834555?ean=2940150275928" target="_blank">Purchase through Barnes & Noble</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Winters-Christmas-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B00Q2883GW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1416834697&sr=8-10&keywords=silver+white+winters" target="_blank">Purchase through Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/silver-white-winters-ebook/candice-patterson/9781611164657/pd/74009EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=74009EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP" target="_blank">Purchase through Christianbook.com</a><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b2fcf2ed2/" id="rc-b2fcf2ed2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>Have you read any Christmas books or watched any movies yet?</b></span><br />
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Have a wonderful day!! </div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-61057573188534951682014-12-03T07:00:00.000-05:002014-12-03T07:00:02.773-05:00Two Fun Announcements!So much has happened since I last posted! I'll catch you up...<div>
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We spent Thanksgiving with family, and I ate too much, as usual. Then we decorated our house for Christmas, watched the Michigan Wolverines lose (*sob*) and did some online Christmas shopping. Hooray!</div>
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And guess what? <b><span style="font-size: large;">I sold another book to Harlequin Love Inspired!</span></b> It's working title is <b><i>A Family for Macy</i></b>, and it will be released in September 2015!! I couldn't be happier!</div>
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The good stuff doesn't stop there. On Monday, <b><i>A Recipe for Romance</i></b>, released! Twenty-two Love Inspired authors contributed short stories and recipes for this collection, and the best part? All the royalties go to children's charities (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America)! I am SO honored to be part of this wonderful project!</div>
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Special thanks goes to <a href="http://lacywilliamsauthor.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lacy Williams</a> and <a href="http://www.danacorbit.com/" target="_blank">Dana Corbit</a> for putting so much time and effort into the book. Thanks, ladies!!</div>
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<b>Interested in purchasing <i>A Recipe for Romance</i>? Click on the links below!</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QEE7Z18/" target="_blank"><b>A Recipe for Romance Kindle version</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1942505000/" target="_blank"><b>A Recipe for Romance Paperback version</b></a></div>
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My story, <b><i>A Saturday of Surprises</i></b>, features Chicken Enchilada Soup and a splash of romance with an unlikely couple. I hope you'll consider purchasing the book!</div>
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It's a busy, busy time of year. Please take a minute to fix yourself a warm beverage and just relax. I'll even send a plate of virtual chocolate chip cookies. :)</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How do you relax this time of year?</span></b></div>
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Have a wonderful day!!</div>
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Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-77129760328955968032014-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:002014-11-26T07:00:02.998-05:00Tomorrow Is Thanksgiving: Guest Elizabeth Maddrey<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth Perry Maddrey!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tomorrow
is Thanksgiving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll
let that sink in for a moment, because if you’re like me, that totally snuck up
on you. Every year, I have these great plans about how I’m going to plan my
menu at the start of the month and I’m going to shop early so I’m not stuck
deciding between a thirty-four pound turkey or two six-pound turkeys to feed
the twelve people that generally make up our family Thanksgiving dinner. Every
year…I fail. Miserably.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so, it’s good that Jill asked me to write this ahead of time, because chances
are, right now? I’m standing in the grocery store along with nineteen million
men (it’s always men. I guess most of the women had their act together and just
had to send their hubby out for one or two items.) trying to pick through the
emaciated sweet potatoes that no one wanted, hoping to find one or two that are
actually worth eating. You’ll know it’s me because I have the two screaming
children in the cart, both incredibly unhappy about being at the grocery store
when they should be at home eating dinner. And I’d have happily left them
there, except my own husband is stuck in the insane traffic that plagues the DC
area on any kind of day ending in ‘y’, but especially on holiday weekends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
has become my Thanksgiving tradition. I’m not sure it’s a good one to have, but
I’ll admit that, to me at least, it still kind of beats the one my mom tried so
hard to instill when we were kids (everyone got kernels of corn at their dinner
seat, then we had to say one thankful thing for each kernel. Nice idea. Crazy
cheesy to the two sarcastic teens that she birthed.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
even with the craziness that has come to define my shopping (and it usually
trickles into the cooking and serving portion of the meal, if we’re honest), I
have to say I love Thanksgiving. I love that there’s a whole day set aside to
encourage us to be thankful – and the older I get, I begin to understand Mom
and her corn kernels a bit better. Because in addition to reminding myself to
be thankful (something that’s so easy to forget to do when you’re wrapped up in
the day-to-day of life), I love hearing other people talk about the things
they’re thankful for. Inevitably, that reminds me of even more that I
appreciate. And so on, and so forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
then, let’s be honest, there’s pie. I’m very thankful that someone invented
pie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
tomorrow, I’ll be sitting down with my husband and our kids, my parents, my
sister and her husband, my husband’s parents, and his two sisters. And we’ll
have lots of (hopefully) delicious food that I’ve made and, more likely than
not, we’ll spend a few minutes talking about the last year and the specific
things we’re thankful for. For me, that will include gratitude for my second
year as a published author with two more full-length novels and a novella
already released and my third novel for the year coming out next week. I still
have to stop and pinch myself when I think about the fact that I have
seven—almost eight—books out there in the world for other people to read. (And
I’m even more grateful that people do read them and, beyond that, enjoy them!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow, full of turkey and pie and family and,
above all, thankfulness. And if, like me, you’re facing down a trip to the
store today…I hope you find everything you need so you don’t have to try and
substitute parsnips for potatoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">About Elizabeth Maddrey ~</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elizabeth
Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly
and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of math and
organization steered her into computer science for college and graduate school,
she has always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time.
When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has
mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity.
She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing
with sin and receiving God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Elizabeth
lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. with her husband and their two
incredibly active little boys. She invites you to interact with her at her
website </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.elizabethmaddrey.com/">www.ElizabethMaddrey.com</a>, or on </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMaddrey" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMaddre" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/emaddrey/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, and <a href="http://plus.google.com/u/0/+ElizabethMaddrey/post" target="_blank">Google+</a>. </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Releasing December 2, 2014 – Love
Defined, Book 3 in the Remnants Series</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dreams
Change. Plans Fail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">July
and Gareth have reached the end of their infertility treatment options. With conflicting feelings on adoption, they
struggle to discover common ground in their marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile,
July's twin sister, June, and her husband, Toby, are navigating the
uncertainties of adoption and the challenges of new parenthood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How
much stretching can their relationships endure before they snap?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Elizabeth, I can completely relate to the last minute store runs. I'm lucky to stay on top of the kids' homework. Forget the turkeys and potatoes! And I'm giggling at the corn kernel concept. It's such a "mom" thing to do. I hope you enjoy today and avoid those stores!! Thank you so much for sharing with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, what's your most embarrassing moment when it comes to cooking?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>When I was a newlywed, I knew nothing about cooking. I once made a stew with Kielbasa sausage and A1 sauce. Yeah, we ordered pizza that night!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have a wonderful and very blessed Thanksgiving!! </span></div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-39189541470548120722014-11-21T07:00:00.000-05:002017-04-05T19:16:06.886-04:00Deepening Internal Conflicts in Romance NovelsYesterday I sent a partial to a trusted friend for some feedback. I mainly wanted to know: Is the story strong enough? Do you like the characters? Is there enough tension?<br />
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Naturally, fifteen minutes after I sent it, I realized my hero's internal conflict keeping him from falling in love wasn't fleshed out enough in the opening chapters. He had a good reason to avoid relationships, but I hadn't really shown how that affected him emotionally.<br />
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This got me to thinking. My favorite romance novels stick right to my heart. It's as if I'm taking the journey with them.<br />
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A good reason not to fall in love isn't enough. We need to show <i>how</i> the good reason emotionally affects the character.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Example of a good reason:</span></b><br />
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<i>John's girlfriend died in a car accident two years ago. He loved her and was devastated when she died. He hasn't been willing to take a chance on dating since.</i><br />
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John's beloved girlfriend dying IS a great reason for him to avoid romance. However, it's not really enough. How did her death affect him? Why, specifically, is he scared to try again?<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Possible emotional reactions:</span></b><br />
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- John is afraid of his heart breaking again if a new girlfriend dies. (Afraid of getting hurt)<br />
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- John feels betrayed by God that his love was taken from him so young. (Can't trust that God is for him)<br />
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- John doesn't believe he could ever love anyone like he loved his dead girlfriend. (He's unrealistically forgotten all the girlfriend's faults, putting her on a virtual pedestal. No one can live up to the memory of her.)<br />
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- John feels responsible for her dying, even though he wasn't involved in the accident. (False sense of control--he should have driven that night, etc...)<br />
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- John had his life planned out with girlfriend. (Doesn't believe a future with someone else could ever be as good as the one he lost.)<br />
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It's important to not only give our characters reasons to avoid love, but to show the emotional impact as well. If you took three real people and gave them the same reason for avoiding love, each would have a different emotional reaction. Our characters do too!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Is there a fictional character that stays in your mind? Do you know why? </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be sure to sign up
for my newsletter <a href="http://eepurl.com/f3YzL" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>! All my book news, the latest happenings and some fun
pictures will come to your inbox several times a year. You can unsubscribe at
any time.</span></div>
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Have a terrific weekend!!</div>
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<br />Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-3321918685901096212014-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:002014-11-19T07:00:01.403-05:00Extending Grace and Offering Hope: Guest Jessica R. Patch<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Today, I'm so happy to welcome one of my best friends--and gifted writer--<a href="http://www.jessicarpatch.com/" target="_blank">Jessica R. Patch</a>! She's not only taking over my blog, but she's also generously giving away her Christmas novella to anyone who signs up for her newsletter. Take it from me, this is a heartwarming story, so I hope you sign up!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks so much for having me today, Jill! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We all struggle. We all fall short and miss the mark
for sure. In my Christmas novella, <i>H<b>ope
Under Mistletoe</b></i>, my hero Knox Everhart thinks the heroine is perfect. She’s
a widowed pastor’s wife, a single mom, and she’s still trying to meet the needs
of the church congregants. To top that off, her father drinks too much and
she’s constantly dragging him out of Knox’s bar. Here’s a small excerpt: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “My dad left when I was just a kid, Eden. Some
days I can’t even remember his face. No brothers and sisters. Just Nathan—and
he…he had you,” he murmured. “The people in that bar, they became my family.
And I liked the feeling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eden’s heart exploded into a million
jagged fragments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Family. No judgment, just
unconditional love. That’s what Knox craved. Didn’t everyone? She clutched his
black-and-gray scarf. “That’s what the people in the church are for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His sight trailed over her head,
then he met her gaze. “Even the gossips? It’s no secret Betsy Davis knows
everything and tells everything in the name of truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But do you know that Betsy Davis
gives thousands of her hard-earned dollars to help missionaries and orphans?
Did you know her husband Leonard gives free legal aid to single moms who can’t
get the child support they deserve?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Your point?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Knox, none of us are without sin.
We’re not perfect. We’re progress. Betsy struggles with her tongue. But she
loves the Lord. So we get irked,” she snickered, “and we pray and confront her
in love, and we extend mercy and grace. That’s family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I think </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you’re</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> perfect.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She’d
have laughed in his face if he wasn’t so serious. “I am far from perfect. My
struggles aren’t on public display. They’re here.” She touched her heart. “And
here.” She pointed to her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like Eden, many of us struggle more on the inside
than the outside. We wear big smiles, we fix our hair, match our scarf with our
shoes and purse. We can easily look put together, can’t we? And on the inside,
we’re miserable. Hurting. Suffering.</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I think sometimes Christians are labeled hypocrites
when really we’re just imperfect people working our way through this thing
called a saved life. We slip up. We say things we shouldn’t. We sin in our
anger. But then we repent, and move forward again. Oh, there are a few
hypocrites—who know they’re acting opposite of how they should, they don’t
repent, don’t care but never have trouble pointing the finger at someone else.
Those few have a way of spoiling the good things about being about Christian for
others. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At
the end of the day, what Eden says rings true: “We pray, we confront in love,
and we extend mercy and grace.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>“Talk and act like a person expecting to
be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you
can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment
every time.” James 2:13 MSG</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever you’re going through, these
words of Christ still hold weight: <b>“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on
religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show
you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting
on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’d love for you to subscribe to my</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.jessicarpatch.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">Patched In Newsletter</a></span><span style="font-size: small;">. And to say thank you, you’ll receive this
exclusive Christmas novella! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFAhhYnVNQEGoHT3nFTXJWXH-JLg38CHd53Wp8P3d5Nmy0BTfbSb76jvMqy9vAikaSrIFnP45S_oHnE34JU1CjJf6V8zkRVn-FSIoD0bnaNvVpi2rCkRoyECQ03by4zhTNKp0QfcHFCc/s1600/Hope+Under+Mistletoe+-+High+Resolution+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFAhhYnVNQEGoHT3nFTXJWXH-JLg38CHd53Wp8P3d5Nmy0BTfbSb76jvMqy9vAikaSrIFnP45S_oHnE34JU1CjJf6V8zkRVn-FSIoD0bnaNvVpi2rCkRoyECQ03by4zhTNKp0QfcHFCc/s1600/Hope+Under+Mistletoe+-+High+Resolution+cover.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">***</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfSrD4WiHpBd_iTOfONCI3D1AYTTHzlucUqvPNKSakYCgboGk_BjULzhEJjhdr8chktXo70ltDuPyJsy5aljMrkddsVScZaRHDRgGxci9slQRyoQd0t9dDTiWyJ1_cRSXMzXZe65ZOao/s1600/101_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfSrD4WiHpBd_iTOfONCI3D1AYTTHzlucUqvPNKSakYCgboGk_BjULzhEJjhdr8chktXo70ltDuPyJsy5aljMrkddsVScZaRHDRgGxci9slQRyoQd0t9dDTiWyJ1_cRSXMzXZe65ZOao/s1600/101_1764.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica and I at ACFW a few years ago. This is one of my favorite pictures!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Jessica R. Patch</b> writes inspirational
contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A passion to draw women into
intimacy with God keeps her motivated, along with ice-cold Perrier and
adventurous trips in the name of research. When she’s not hunched over her
laptop or teaching the new & growing believer's class at her church, you
can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, embarrassing her daughter
in unique ways, dominating her son at board games, and collecting recipes to
wonderful dishes she'll probably never cook. She is represented by</span><a href="http://www.booksandsuch.com/our-agents/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Rachel Kent of Books &
Such Literary Management.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Connect with Jessica on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-R-Patch-Writer/209834115730711" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jessicarpatch">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jessicarpatch/">Pinterest</a> and her <a href="http://www.jessicarpatch.com/">website</a>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">***</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Thank you SO much for being my guest today, Jessica!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When do you put up your Christmas decorations?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Have a lovely day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-31168902628632266202014-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:002017-04-05T19:16:29.564-04:00My Ideal Holiday ScheduleHoliday schedules? Already?<br />
<br />
Yes! Thanksgiving (for my American friends) is less than two weeks away. And Christmas? Rolls around about four weeks later.<br />
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Did this cause panic to rise within you? It did me!<br />
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<br />
I started thinking about the upcoming festive season, and instead of excitement, I felt a bit of dread. Who wants to dread the holidays? NOT ME!! I realized if I had a solid plan, I'd anticipate everything more.<br />
<br />
First, I needed firm dates for all the parties. After talking to both sets of parents, I had a better idea of when we could celebrate Christmas with them all.<br />
<br />
My husband and I then had our annual argument--oops! I mean <i>discussion-- </i>about where and when we were celebrating all of these Christmas parties. This year was pretty easy, and knowing the parties were on the schedule took a lot of stress off my shoulders.<br />
<br />
I moved on to Thanksgiving and planned the dishes I was making, even purchasing several ingredients on sale while grocery shopping last week. I jotted down a shopping list for the rest.<br />
<br />
Once Thanksgiving is over, I plan on putting up our Christmas decorations and making a list of everyone we buy presents for to brainstorm possible presents. This will be done before December 1. After that, I systematically tackle gift shopping, sending cards, and planning food for all the parties.<br />
<br />
I don't like shopping, so if my husband and I can buy every gift before December 14, I'll be thrilled!<br />
<br />
One thing I refuse to do is focus so much on the preparations that I miss the things I absolutely adore about December. Our zoo has an amazing Christmas light show open every night. I'm hitting that! There are several original Hallmark Christmas movies I'm dying to see. I want to enjoy a hot cup of coffee at the bookstore and browse all the fabulous books. My preschool class will be dressing up for our Sunday School church service, and I'm bursting to see them sing.<br />
<br />
So my ideal schedule involves pre-planning, buying gifts ahead of time, and enjoying the things that make the season wonderful.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What does your ideal holiday schedule look like? Take half an hour to brainstorm it and you might be surprised what you learn!</b></span><br />
<br />
If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, you can do that<b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://eepurl.com/f3YzL" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b>. I'll be sending out a Christmas newsletter soon! All you need to do is provide your name and email address, and you can unsubscribe at any time!<br />
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Have a fantastic day!!<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-4338043792522045922014-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:002014-11-12T07:00:01.373-05:00Top 10 Things to Do After Thanksgiving Besides Shopping: Guest Krista Phillips<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Krista Phillips!</i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></i>
<b>TOP TEN things to do the day after Thanksgiving BESIDES shopping...</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnI3qRjcWB8HFneVS4t5_qo6mcucEko5kTplvY-UEytdZlxZdCzQAh2U-WmUrrS5OLYUF-FhddHWkWnkvG9_3P_yee4GWlrojY3Yk6M8u3SybkM5dDu4u_22V7qEympYDA8sNX7lSTUk/s1600/krista+close+up2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnI3qRjcWB8HFneVS4t5_qo6mcucEko5kTplvY-UEytdZlxZdCzQAh2U-WmUrrS5OLYUF-FhddHWkWnkvG9_3P_yee4GWlrojY3Yk6M8u3SybkM5dDu4u_22V7qEympYDA8sNX7lSTUk/s320/krista+close+up2.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<i>Want some ideas for
things to do on Black Friday... that DON'T involve braving the crowds and
shopping? Because you KNOW that's not what you want to be doing....<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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10.) Eat. More. Turkey. Sandwiches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9.) Read a good book.. or two... or three. (One about, uh, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sandwich-Side-Romance-Krista-Phillips/dp/1426745923/">sandwiches</a>,
would be a GREAT option!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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8.) Go golfing. Mini-golf is fine. Even golfing on the WII.
Or I'm sure they make some golf app for your phone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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7.) Sleep. Turkey does have that effect on people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6.) Go to the gym. WORK off those calories you just ate!
It'll probably take you ALL DAY LONG, but you can do it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5.) Put up Christmas decorations. Spend hours on a ladder
only to find that one bad bulb made your whole string of lights not work. Spend
a few more hours trying to find which bulb is bad. This is fun. I promise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4.) Board games. Lots and lots and lots of board games.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.) Go to work. I know you'll be the only one there, but
think of how much stuff you can get caught up on with no one there bother you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2.) Go visit Grandma. I know you just visited her yesterday,
but hey. She loves seeing her grandkids. Why not two days in a row?<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the number one thing to do the day after Thanksgiving
besides shopping is......<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Go take coffee (or
Hot chocolate…) to your friends who are standing in line to get that deal that
really isn't all that great. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Just whatever you do... DON'T GO SHOPPING.<o:p></o:p></div>
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(and, I, uh, definitely don't say this to help make the
lines shorter and encourage more people not to shop so I can shop with better
ease... nope... not at ALL...*ahem*)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>So... what is YOUR after Thanksgiving tradition? Do you have
one?</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Me? Well, I think you already know. You'll find me shopping!
(I'm not a fan of the whole Thanksgiving day thing though... but 4am on Black
Friday? I'm THERE! It's a tradition!!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">*** </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>About
Krista ~<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Krista
Phillips is the author of <i>Sandwich, with
a Side of Romance</i> and <i>A Side of Faith</i>.
She enjoys life with her husband and their four beautiful daughters in
Tennessee. She is an advocate for congenital heart defect and organ donation
awareness and blogs at <a href="http://www.kristaphillips.com/">www.kristaphillips.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Connect with Krista on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/authorkristaphillips" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/kristaphillips" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF7Ix89BTdf_ehiAHaZZXWZNXvspu3kwHc4F01qT_QUWfETJ3M9LOFusgHl3zwJ2L66szuPYTEiuyoMAJ7WQgM8UdpSC-7kW4GEXPo7C2YnNST_y9gEOcU8_aDlbLWa4N05leymoxy-8/s1600/A+Side+of+Faith+-+front+only.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF7Ix89BTdf_ehiAHaZZXWZNXvspu3kwHc4F01qT_QUWfETJ3M9LOFusgHl3zwJ2L66szuPYTEiuyoMAJ7WQgM8UdpSC-7kW4GEXPo7C2YnNST_y9gEOcU8_aDlbLWa4N05leymoxy-8/s320/A+Side+of+Faith+-+front+only.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">A Side of
Faith<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">He is everything she <i>never</i> wanted...<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Rachel Carter is on top of the world. A new job in a new
town, friends, and a house to call her own. Men? Eh, someday. And when the time
comes, she’ll go for a nice safe geek or something. She will NOT be repeating
the mistakes of her youth. </div>
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But then Cameron Foster comes knocking on her door, reminding her of the man
she vows never to think of again. <br />
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God wouldn’t send her a man who reminds her of everything she is trying to put
behind her...would He?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p>Interested in purchasing A Side of Faith? The following sites are linked! </o:p></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Side-Faith-Sandwich-Novella-Book-ebook/dp/B00MNR78AS" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-side-of-faith-ebook-krista-phillips/1120135361?ean=2940150364004" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-side-of-faith" target="_blank">Kobo</a></b></div>
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***</div>
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Thank you so much for being my guest today, Krista! I'm definitely planning on reading and getting hot chocolate!<br />
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<b>It's giveaway time!! Leave your email address in the comments of this post for your chance to win a copy of BOTH Krista's books, <i>Sandwich with a Side of Romance </i>and her novella, <i>A Side of Faith</i>.</b></div>
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<o:p> <i>Contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Winner will be randomly selected from the comments on Saturday, November 15 and notified via email the following week.</i></o:p></div>
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<o:p><i><br /></i></o:p></div>
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Back to Krista's question:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So... what is YOUR after Thanksgiving tradition? Do you have one?</span></b></div>
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Have a terrific day!!</div>
Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com6