STT Book Birthdays!

Since August is our birthday month, we thought we'd mix it up a little bit and share the Book Birthdays of those on our Stitches Thru Time community. As it turns out, we have several! Won't you help us celebrate the birth of these wonderful new titles?

July 25th release - Under Fire by Linda Shenton Matchett

Small-town journalist Ruth Brown's sister Jane is pronounced dead after a boating accident in the Spring of 1942. Because Jane's body is missing, Ruth is convinced her sister is still alive. A series of events and discoveries raise Ruth's suspicions about Jane's work at the local manufacturing plant, then additional clues send Ruth to war-torn London. By the time their brother contacts her with the devastating news that Jane's body has been found, and evidence suggests she was murdered, Ruth has stumbled on black marketers, resistance fighters, and the IRA-all of whom may want her dead.

Buy the Paperback

Or get the ebook on Amazon

Coming the End of August - Wheresoever They May Be by Terri Wangard

A sailor, his Rosie-the-Riveter wife, her WAC sister, and a grasshopper pilot. They’re all doing their part to help win the war, but sometimes the enemy can be hard to identify.

Follow Terri on Amazon or Facebook to know when the book releases! 

Coming September 1 - Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel (Pre-order now for some awesome bonuses!)

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

Find out where to pre-order and what the bonus is!

Coming September 6 - A Groom for Mama by Catherine Castle

A sweet romantic comedy with a touch of drama.  Follow Catherine on her blog to keep updated on the release!


We need a song. "Happy Book Birthday to you, happy book birthday to you!"

I'm singing here, and it sounds suspiciously like the "Happy un-birthday to you" from Alice in Wonderland. Somebody help me out.

AND to celebrate all these amazing Book Birthdays, I'm giving away one Advanced Reader copy of Solve by Christmas! That means you will get your hands on it before the public. What do ya say to that? ;) 

Leave us a comment to get your name in the drawing.

Comment to Win Book 3 of the Restoration Trilogy by Denise Weimer

Weekly Windup

Welcome to the Weekly Windup! We have a winner!

 

Winner of Lavender Fields Inn by June Foster (ebook) is... Marilyn R.!

Congratulations!  If you are a winner, please contact us to claim your prize.

Coming up this week:

Monday, 3/27: Three Visual Symbolisms in The Shack with Catherine Castle
Tuesday, 3/28: In Honor of Women's History Month by Linda Matchett
Wednesday, 3/29: Building a Safe Space by Elaine Manders
Thursday, 3/30: Book review by Jodie Wolfe
Friday, 3/31: Guest blogger Carla Olson Gade
Saturday, 4/1: Interview with Edie Melson

This Week's Giveaway:

Book 3 in the Restoration Trilogy: Witch (ebook) by Denise Weimer 

*Denise says it sounds scary, but it's not. ;)

Having restored Michael Johnson’s ancestors’ house and apothecary shop and begun applying the lessons of family and forgiveness unearthed from the past, Jennifer Rushmore expects to complete her first preservation job with the simple relocation of a log home. But as her crew reconstructs the 1787 cabin, home to the first Dunham doctor, attacks on those involved throw suspicion on neighbors and friends alike. And while Jennifer has trusted God and Michael with the pain of her past, it appears Michael’s been keeping his own secrets. Will she use a dream job offer from Savannah as an escape, or will a haunting tale from a Colonial diary convince her to rely on the faithfulness of his love?

 Comment on any post now through April 2nd to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the Weekly Windup on April 3rd.

Announcements:

Terri Wangard's book, Soar Like Eagles is FREE on Amazon!

Terri Wangard's Soar Like Eagles, just released in December of 2016, is FREE through March 29th. Enjoy!

http://amzn.to/2n4LdVj

 

Friends & Enemies - Sit-Down

Howdy y'all! Crystal Barnes here with another fun Saturday Sit-down. Today I've got fellow history lover and Stitches Blogger, Terri Wangard in the hot seat. She's got a brand, spanking-new release that's she's giving us the down-low on today. So let's get this party started.

Just so there's no confusion--these are friends, not enemies. ;)
Stitches Thru Time friends to be exact.
That's Terri on the far right at
the 2015 ACFW conference genre night. 

Terri, for those who don't have the benefit of knowing you, tell us a bit about yourself.

In grade school I wrote stories in notebooks. The first Girl Scout badge I received was the Writer. These days I write historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest (Book 1) and 2013 First Impressions (Book 3), as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist (Book 2). My research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. I have a bachelor’s degree in history (yes, I love doing research) and a master’s degree in library science. I was born, raised, and presently live in Wisconsin, but have also lived in Michigan, California, and Utah. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps me occupied as an associate editor.

Congratulations on your new release! What is Friends and Enemies about?

World War II rages across Europe, particularly in Germany, claiming the life of Heidi Wetzel’s husband. In a bid to escape the frequent bombings of German cities, Heidi moves to a farm in the German countryside, where she helps care for orphaned children. While there, Heidi comes across an American airman, Paul, with whom she spent time when her family lived in Milwaukee during her high school years. When Paul’s plane is shot down over Germany, his only thought is survival—until he hears God’s voice guiding him to his late wife’s friend.

The pages of your book are filled with history and sights in Germany. Where did you get your love of WWII history? Have you been to Germany?

I started writing contemporary stories in the early 2000s, but stopped after a while. When I decided to start again in 2008, I got the idea to use letters written in 1947-48 by distant cousins to whom my grandparents sent care packages. I don’t know what their beliefs were about Hitler and the Nazis, so I created a story for them, a family to be proud of. I intended Friends and Enemies to be a stand-alone until an editor at conference told me I’d probably need a series to be published. I had started a new contemporary, but set that aside to write No Neutral Ground (May 2016) and Soar Like Eagles (Sept 2016).
I have been to Germany, briefly. Twice on ocean cruises when the ships docked in Germany, I visited Berlin for a total of 2 days. I also did a Rhine and Mosel Rivers cruise. My ancestral hometown (and Heidi’s) is only about 15 miles from the Rhine. I wish I knew then I’d be writing Friends and Enemies.

What do hope folks will take away from your story?

When I wrote the story, I didn’t have anything in mind beyond an entertaining tale. Both main characters must deal with personal tragedies while living in difficult times. One stays close to God, the other turns away. Paul soon realizes that God never turned away from him. That seems to be the natural take away.

Do you have a favorite scene in the book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?

The reunion after they hadn’t seen each other in six or seven years. At that time they were friends. Now they’re enemies, hence the title. In the original version, they had been high school sweethearts and there were two reunions, one totally unexpected and the second one hoped for. Unfortunately, that version covered a ten year time span. Now it’s about a year and a half.

What do you plan to work on next?

I’m doing another WWII story about a sailor, his Rosie the Riveter wife, her WAC sister, and a grasshopper pilot. It’s been slow going because I write only on the weekends. (Computer time is a migraine trigger for me.)

Order Now

Sorry for the slow going, but the story sounds like the makings of a good'un. :) Where can readers connect with you? Where can readers buy your book(s)?

My website is www.terriwangard.com, and it includes a link to buy Friends and Enemies. My Facebook address is https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard

Thanks for those links. Now, last but not least, apart from writing, what is your favorite creative outlet?

I used to do a lot of cross stitch, but the walls are filled now with my “masterpieces.” I recently decided to start knitting again. My mom taught me how, and my first project was a set of Christmas snowmen ornaments which I blogged about here a few years ago. Most of my spare time is spent reading, and most evenings I walk the treadmill while channel flipping.

Oh, I used to cross stitch. Haven't done that in quite a while. Well, thanks so much for sharing with today, Terri, and giving us the inside scoop on Friends and Enemies. 

Readers, do you enjoy WWII historicals? Have you ever traveled to Germany?

Friends & Enemies

Howdy y'all! Crystal Barnes here. Have you heard? Fellow Stitches Thru Time author Terri Wangard just released a new book!!!! Yeehaw!!!

Well, this chica got the privilege of reading Terri's book Friends & Enemies a bit early. Want to hear my two cents? I thought you would. (For those of you who made some smart-alec remark after that question, I'll pretend I didn't hear that. ;) )

Do you love history? Well, you can tell Terri Wangard does. Friends and Enemies is full of WWII history and oft times she makes you feel like you walked into Germany, or into an Allie camp, or are sitting in the seat of a bomber plane. Yes, bomber plane. I will warn you the true romance of the story doesn't really start until past the midpoint of the book, but Terri weaves in some great lessons as she goes. A clean, Christian story I'd definitely recommend to someone who is a real lover of history and wants to view WWII from both sides of the lines.

P.S. For those of you who want to hear more about Terri and her new book, we'll be having a sit-down with her on Saturday, so be sure to stop by. :)