Remembering Mama

Mother's Day will be celebrated this month. 

It's a special time to show our love, remembrance, 

and respect for those women we call mothers. 

Follow me as I journey down memory lane, and hopefully you'll have fond memories too. 

My favorite Mother's Day poem:

Memo for a Lady

Never say again you are old!
Have you considered how much longer
Ago the temple of Diana at Ephesus,
And even Venus? They are old.

And never say you're not attractive.
Remember that for us
Who look deeper than skin
And see your thought flowering
Goldenly as sunflowers, and more tall,
Hear your heart singing sometimes
And feel the warmth of its love,
And join in your laughter often,
You are beautiful.

--Elaine V. Emans

Things Mom Did:

* One of her greatest joys was cooking for her family! I remember Friday nights with hamburgers and the works--anything we wanted on them...and then hamburger gravy ladled on top of this creation. Lol. Don't knock it till you try it. Delicious! 

* She read to us. I'm pretty sure she got tired of reading some books over and over to us. We'd catch her occasionally trying to skip pages and make her read it correctly! But I never remember her complaining. I suppose that's why we all read today!

* She loved God. Church was her thing, and she taught us that there's where we were to be on Sundays and anytime special services happened! Many times I'd see her reading her Bible or see it opened on a chair, table or sofa. A great example she was. 

Now, I'd love to share this special song with you. 

Wherever you are, be sure to thank God for your mother or the memory of your mother. 

And finally, enjoy this song. I know I did and do! 

My Mother's Faith

https://youtu.be/s4QAzSKg9Q0

Have a beautiful day!!

ABOUT CAROLE:

Besides being an active participant of many writing groups, Carole is an award winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance and whimsy into her books, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Tell me of your Dream Reading Room & Courageous Brides giveaway!

There's still more time to get your comments/entries in for this great giveaway of the Courageous Brides collection!

Speaking of books and collections, I was hoping ya'll would join in the conversation with me today and we could swap bookish craft and decorating ideas. I'm currently working on decorating a girl's reading room, and I'm open to ideas!

What would your dream "Reading Room" look like? Would it be Jane Austen style? Beauty and the Beast? Sherlock Holmes?
What type of bookshelves would you have?

Leave me a comment below telling me of your dream reading room and get your name in the drawing for something from my prize vault!

This Week's Giveaway:

 Courageous Brides Collection (ebook) by Rose Allen McCauley

Ride into adventures alongside nine determined women of yesteryear whose acts of compassion and bravery attract male attention. Marcy helps displaced Indians. Emmy tends wounds at Fort Snelling. Ronnie stows away on a cattle drive. Daisy disguises herself as a Pony Express rider. Elinor becomes an abolitionist. Mae tames wild horses. Hannah gets help for accident victims. Lucy’s curiosity unnerves criminals. Kate nurses soldiers on the battlefield. Will real dangers douse the sparks of love?
Check it out on Amazon

Comment on any post now through October 14th to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the Weekly Windup on October 15th.

 

Coming up this week:

Thursday: Book Review by Angela Couch

Friday: Character Interview with Guest Susan M. Baganz

Saturday: Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley

Christian Fiction - the ones that stick

 As I thought about which book to review for today’s blog, I began to reflect on the all Christian fiction I’ve read over the course of my life. The very first Christian Fiction I read was published in 1980 – A Truckload of Trouble by Patricia Kershaw. It’s a story about kids on a ranch and well . . . how they deal with a heap o’ trouble. I did not know the book was written from a Christian perspective, so when I encountered my worldview in the story, it swept me up. It was almost like discovering Oreo’s for the first time. A true wow! experience. I was ten years old.

Later in life, I discovered Madeleine L’Engle, one of my all time favorite authors. She writes from a distinctly Christian perspective, but it was also distinctly different from me. Very artsy. Very thought provoking. The book, Certain Women struck me in a very powerful way. First of all, she parallels a contemporary character with King David. They both had many wives and made serious parenting errors, but the juxtaposition was a wonderful thing, causing me to grapple with many modern issues from a Christian standpoint. Excellent, thought provoking, and entertaining to boot!

The Pawn by Steven James again, completely challenged me as a reader of Christian fiction. By the time I read this story, I’d read lots of Christian fiction, but nothing like this. The villain is truly pure evil, and I’d never really seen a Christian author dig into that side of things before. It’s a fabulous read, but shocking in parts – especially one scene at the beginning. And dark. Steven James can spin a yarn . . . he actually has a master’s degree in storytelling. He’s brilliant. The story is the first in a series about an FBI agent who reminds me of a modern day Sherlock Holmes, but less sure of himself. Highly suspenseful. This was the first Christian book that rivaled the secular suspense novels I was addicted to.

Lastly, I land on books written by Charles Martin. My favorite is Water from my Heart.  Martin started his publishing career with Thomas Nelson and is now with a general market publisher, but his novels still communicate his deeply rooted faith. In Water from my Heart, Martin’s main character is a drug runner in and around Florida. I never in my wildest dreams expected to read and enjoy a story about a drug runner, but Charles Martin writes highly flawed characters who are worth rooting for. He writes about honor and screwing up and redemption. I can highly recommend anything written by him.

So there you have it, sign posts on the path of my Christian fiction experience. I’ve read loads of Christian fiction. I still read loads of secular fiction. But looking back on the growth of this industry, it was fun to see which Christian authors/books really stuck with me.

Which Christian authors have had the greatest impact on you over the years? Are there any Christian novels that changed the way you view the world? Which ones have stuck with you?

Mama and Her Wisdom

May is flowers, and late spring and mothers.

                                                                  Mama dressed up

It’s what you think of when you think of the month, and since my mama went to heaven a little over two weeks ago, I wanted to mention some things she taught me. These are three that I love the most.



READ. Mama instilled a love of reading in her children at an early age. I remember her reading while my two brothers and I were gathered around her chair. Sometimes she’d try to skip a page (she had read the book many times!) but we didn’t let her get away with that! We knew it by heart and wanted
every page read.

That love still lives inside me today. That’s one reason, I’m sure, I’m a writer. That’s another reason why my hubby and I taught our boys to read before they went to school and that they still love to read today.

Reading is important. It was a valuable lesson Mama taught us.



                   Mama and a friend

CLEANLINESS. Mama kept our clothes neat and clean. She dressed us well. We learned at an early age to remove our school and church clothes for play clothes. As an adult now, Mama’s teachings, drilled into us, have shown us that respecting yourself, giving others a good image, and feeling good about yourself are important. 






                                                                                                            Young Mama
LOVE. Mama loved us even when we disagreed, especially after we grew up. We might not have always done as she wanted, but we knew she loved us and we loved her. We learned that no matter what, love. Love yourself, love others, love your family, your children, your spouse, your friends. Love is the greatest of other attributes. Love is important.


               Older Mama





Mama’s lessons taught us to become worthy citizens, decent human beings, capable workers and good parents. Not perfect, but parents who strive to do the right thing.



Thanks for the lessons, Mama. Well done.

About the author:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Connect with her here:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Read about her books here:

Amazon

Dear Mr. Knightley...

If you are a Jane Austen fan, Dear Mr. Knightly is a rare treat. While paying heavy homage to Austen’s characters and stories, this book is not trying to emulate Jane Austen. Rather, the author has managed capture some of the memorable details from Austen novels, as well as other favorite classics, weaving them into a story that actually parallels Emma in some ways. In fact, the book is a transformative take on one of my favorite stories from childhood, Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster.

In this version, an orphan brought up through the system in contemporary Chicago writes letters to a mysterious benefactor who puts her through college. Told exclusively through letters, the epistolary novel gives us a deeply personal view a remarkable young woman. Her emotions run high as she seeks to find a place in the world and people who will care for her…things she’s never truly experienced before. Love, learning, conflict, and family all find their way into the letters, each laden with sparkling personality and vivid emotion.

This story keeps the pages turning - what will our heroine say next? Some days she’s a hot mess and other days, refreshingly honest. The characterization runs deep and is very well done. Even though I was familiar with the story (based on Daddy Long Legs) and how it would end, getting there gave me goosebumps. And upon reading the last lines, I couldn't help but sigh. It kept me reading late into the night: simply un-put-down-able! I’m already planning to re-read this one. Oh! And Ms. Reay has recently released another book: Lizzy and Jane. P&P anyone? That’s on my TBR list, for sure.

Do you love Jane Austen? Have you read contemporary fiction based on the classics? Do you love it or wish they’d leave it alone? (For the record, I LOVE it!) For a chance to win our giveaway this week, leave us a comment.

Confessions of a Book Crier

Photo Credit: 123RF photos

Confessions of a Book Crier

by Amber Schamel

I'm not one of those gals that cries a lot. In fact, I tend to cry more often out of frustration than sadness. But I will confess, there have been a couple of books that made me cry. It's a tough thing to do, but it has happened. 

I think the first book that ever made me cry was Beulah by Augusta Jane Evans. It was an old book I picked up at an antique store. As it turns out, it was originally published in 1865. Like many books of its period, Beulah was a story about a plain, hard working, devoted orphan girl. In one of the beginning scenes, Beulah's sister Lillian is adopted by a prominent family, but they don't want Beulah. Lilly is torn from her sister's arms, screaming and begging them not to separate her from her sister. a heartbroken Beulah lets her go, knowing it is for her sister's ultimate benefit, though they may never see each other again. The scene is written in such a way that we feel both sister's anguish, and are already deeply attached to the characters even though this scene occurs in the second chapter. Having three younger sisters myself, this picture tugged at my heartstrings and I confess...I cried like a little girl. 

Whew. There. I said it. First confession out of the way. As an author though, I have another confession to make. Sometimes books make me cry...when I'm writing them. 

My debut novella, The Healer's Touch, is a story about a woman who is banished from her home because of leprosy. Her husband threatens to kill her, and she is separated from her son for over ten years. Life in the leper colony is heartbreaking. When news comes of a man who may be able to heal her, Aaliyah is forced to make a choice: risk her life by going into the city to find the healer, or live out the rest of her miserable existence and die a leper. As I wrote her story, there were a couple of times that I felt her anguish so deep, that it actually made me cry. Rumor is, it had the same effect on some of my readers. 

When writing the sequel to The Healer's Touch, (which just released on Oct 16th!) I found myself in tears for a different reason. This time, it was feeling the character's joy that choked me up. (I can't tell you more than that, or it might spoil it for you.) :D

Okay, so now that I've confessed to being a book crier, it's your turn. What books have made you cry?

If you're an author, have you cried when writing your books?

Best selling author Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and is now the author of over half a dozen books. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites.  Amber is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.

Her new release The Messiah's Sign is on sale for only $.99 for a limited time!

Dreams…they shouldn’t bother him, but when Tyrus’ worst nightmare is vindicated, he has no choice but to face reality. His wife has been unfaithful, and God has punished her with the most feared disease in the land: leprosy. Banishing her to the leper colony, Tyrus struggles to raise their son alone and protect him from a merciless outlaw. But when Malon begins following the teacher from Nazareth, what remains of their business and reputation is at stake. Can Tyrus save his son from the beguiling lies of a false Messiah before he loses the only thing he has left?

 http://www.amazon.com/Days-Messiah-2-Messiahs-Sign-ebook/dp/B00OJ93IB6/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413400281&sr=1-3&keywords=amber+schamel

I'm celebrating my new release with the Name-A-Character Giveaway! Enter to for a chance to pick the name of a main character in Amber's upcoming book The Christmas Pardon. Terms and conditions apply. 
 

In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young lawyer battles with the U.S. Supreme court. In what seemed to be a Christmas miracle, he had secured a pardon for his friend from Lincoln himself. The army executed the boy anyway. On the fifteenth anniversary of his death, will the lawyer finally clear his friends name and bring justice to his memory?

http://www.amberschamel.com/contests.html