Birthday Memories with #giveaway from Julie Arduini

Our birthday image from 2014

Maybe it's just me, but when my birthday rolls around, I find myself reminiscing about the years gone by. Especially about other birthdays of my past. Like the time I was turning 3 or 4 years old and we went to the White Fence Farm in Colorado and they put a sparkler on top of my cake and took me on a ride in a white carriage. Or the time my parents surprised me with a 3-story barbie doll house complete with elevator. Or the time I found half a dozen 4 leaf clovers on my 24th birthday.
*sigh* Good times.

So I thought that today it would be fun to share a few memories from Stitches Thru Time's previous birthday bash's.

Remember last year when Norma Gail brought us a devotional Don't End Up in a Whale?
http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/08/dont-end-up-in-whale.html

When through the years authors have joined us in celebration of their birthday AND ours:

Nancy Bolton - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2015/03/birthday-interview-with-nancy-bolton.html

Rebecca Demarino - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/08/birthday-sit-down-with-presents-of.html

STT Author fun posts:

STT Author quiz - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/08/celebration-month-fun-quiz-coming-right.html

 Who am I Game - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/08/who-am-i-giveaway.html

 The Guess Who Gameshow from "way back" in 2013 - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2013/08/season-finale-of-guess-who-game.html

Reaching a Milestone Birthday - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2015/03/reaching-milestone-birthday.html 

Amusing Weapon Stories - http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2013/08/amusing-weapon-stories.html

Oh, and remember when Julie Arduini visited us last year with her post on a crash-course in cosmetology? http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2016/08/my-crash-course-in-cosmetology-with.html

Well, guess what!! Julie's back this year and offering us a giveaway today of her book Engaged! Winner's choice of Ebook or Paperback. 

Trish Maxwell’s back in Speculator Falls with egg on her face and a lot of apologies to make. She left the mountain town for her dream job in New York City, only to come back unemployed. With no prospects, she works at her family’s department store and makes amends as she finds a new passion creating window displays for Adirondack businesses. She works hard and tries to convince the people of Speculator Falls she’s changed for the better. As Trish pitches in with community events, she meets paramedic Wayne Peterson, the one man who doesn’t seem to judge her. She even makes friends with Jenna Regan, who helps Trish when people demand to know what’s next in Trish’s life. Living in New York City has been Trish's goal, but the more she’s around Wayne and the Adirondack area, the more she’s drawn to revising her plans. Just when Trish thinks the plan for her life’s coming together, a second chance comes her way that could give her every career goal she’s ever wanted, but threaten to tear her and Wayne apart. Can Trish surrender fears about her future and discover God’s plan for her?

Check it out on Amazon

Leave a comment today with one of your favorite birthday memories to get your name in the drawing!

Author interview with Julie Arduini!

So excited today to introduce to you author Julie Arduini! Here is a little about her:

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. The last book in the series, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, is coming in June. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, and also is a blogger for Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing? 

It’s every part of who I am and what I write. Fear held me back from writing for decades, and once I surrendered that, I promised to write for Him when He wanted, and what He wanted. I also have a team of women that pray for my writing. Whether it is a blog post or my newest work in progress, they pray. I won’t write a word without Him, or them.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?

I want them to have new friends, even if they are fictional. That they will find freedom in Christ if they surrender, and it’s worth it.

What is one of your favorite scenes in ENGAGED?

The baby shower was fun to write because it shows the transformation between Trish and one of the senior citizens she hurt when she left town for New York City. Trish finally finds her place at the table with this woman, and I loved I could bring those ladies full circle from ENTRUSTED in book 1, to ENGAGED.

What is your favorite thing about where you live?

I live outside Youngstown, Ohio and this is an undiscovered gem in the country. There are so many family friendly things to do and experience, my favorite being Mill Creek parks, a series of parks that include a garden, golf course, working farm, and more.

What are you working on next? 

This summer I’m writing a tween series with my teen daughter who has Albright’s Hereditary Osteodystrophy and thyroid related issues. With her experiences, she has a heart to show girls the lies the true defeated one tells them, and to surrender them. The series is called Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’, and the theme of the first book is to surrender the lie that we are ugly. I am so proud of her, she plots better than I do.

In the fall I start a new contemporary romance series based on a set of sextuplets kept in the spotlight through unique circumstances. The series is about surrendering opinions, and the first book is tentatively called ANCHORED, about the oldest daughter of the set. There is a series prologue at the end of ENGAGED, so I encourage everyone to take a look!

Trish Maxwell’s back in Speculator Falls with egg on her face and a lot of apologies to make. She left the mountain town for her dream job in New York City, only to come back unemployed. With no prospects, she works at her mom’s department store and makes amends as she finds a new passion creating window displays for Adirondack businesses. She works hard and tries to convince the people of Speculator Falls she’s changed for the better.

As Trish pitches in with community events, she meets paramedic Wayne Peterson, the one man who doesn’t seem to judge her. She even makes friends with Jenna Regan, who helps Trish when people demand to know what’s next in Trish’s life. Living in New York City has been her goal, but the more she’s around Wayne and the Adirondack area, the more she’s drawn to revising her plans. Just when Trish thinks the plan for her life’s coming together, a second chance comes her way that could give her every career goal she’s ever wanted, but threaten to tear her and Wayne apart. Can Trish surrender fears about her future and discover God’s plan for her?

Connect with Julie:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

My Crash Course in Cosmetology with Guest Julie Arduini #Giveaway

When I wrote ENTRUSTED, the first book in the Surrendering Time series, it came from an idea I had when I first visited Speculator, New York back in 1994. I never considered publishing it, much less creating a series.

Even as years passed and I grew in my writing and started to take the craft seriously, the book that became ENTRUSTED was safe. I knew Jenna because she was part of me. Her job was one I was familiar with. When I realized I needed to make a series, I wasn’t sure about the second story. As I completed the end, it opened the doors wide open for Carla to have her own story.

My problem was Carla had a job I knew little about, sheriff, and a dream I knew even less about, cosmetology. In ENTANGLED, Carla is given the resources to leave her job and start cosmetology school. It’s such a generous gift that she struggles because she feels unworthy. ENTANGLED not only takes place in the fictional Speculator Falls, but in Gloversville, where I created the fictional school. There are new characters with their own secondary stories that take place in the school.

I knew I had to be authentic. When I returned to the real Speculator to talk about ENTRUSTED, they thanked me for capturing the heart of their village with authenticity. I’d worked hard to make sure I got everything accurate. With ENTANGLED, I fictionalized much of what took place in Gloversville, but I needed to know what a cosmetology student would learn.

I first went to my own stylist and she gave me her textbook. I read everything and took notes on what each chapter was about. I learned about bacteria and safety. The business side of becoming a beautician. There are different sizes to perm rods, various kinds of scissors and haircuts. The basics of color, and other routes to take like facials and manicures.

I also went to Google to see how the licensing process would be different between Ohio, where I live, and New York, where my series is based. I needed to have a grasp on how many class and practicum hours students put in, and what the testing is like.

Besides my friend and stylist, I also had a member of my critique group who had experience as a cosmetologist. She caught me with inaccuracies more than once, and her help was amazing.

I’m glad I didn’t let fears of the unknown stop me from writing ENTANGLED. There are some aspects I fictionalized, but for the most part, I hope I honored the hair stylist trade.

One of this post's participators will be entered in a drawing for a copy of ENTANGLED. (Winner’s choice of ebook or print. Winners limited to North America. Winner to be announced in the Monday Weekly Windup post.)

For any international readers, I’m doing a Goodreads giveaway August 1-29 where one winner from either US, Canada, Australia or UK will win a signed copy of Entrusted AND Entangled. :) 

Entangled: Surrendering the Past (Book #2, Surrendering Time Series)

“You need to leave me alone. It’s the least you can do.”

Carla Rowling has been given her dream of attending cosmetology school. The gift is so generous she feels unworthy because of choices she made as a teen. The pressure mounts as Carla juggles school, is a single mom, helps her best friend Jenna plan her wedding, spends time with boyfriend Will Marshall, and deals with the fact that her son's father is back in their lives.

Will Marshall is the one Speculator Falls resident everyone can count on. His truck deliveries are reliable. He's the first to help friends like Ben Regan with boat work or be a card partner with Bart Davis. Will's ready to settle down with Carla, loving her is natural. He's bonded with her son, Noah. But when Carla starts cosmetology school, she puts emotional distance between her and Will.

Can Carla release her past and create a future full of highlights, or, will she burn her options worse than a bad perm?

Purchase Link:

• Amazon (Kindle and Print)
• Entangled is book #2. Although it can standalone, if you’d like to read Entrusted: Surrendering the Present first, click here.

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and -- -maybe one day-- -the chocolate. She’s the author of the re-release, ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as the sequel, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. She also shared her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities at JULIE ARDUINI: SURRENDER ISSUES AND CHOCOLATE and the weekly e mail. SUNDAY’S SURRENDER AND CHOCOLATE.

• Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini
• G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini
• Snapchat: @juliearduini
• Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini
• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427852247&sr=8-1
• Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG
• Weekly Sunday’s Surrender and Chocolate: http://eepurl.com/bJ5yHP
• Surrendered Scribe Media Promotions: (Book release info sent as needed) http://eepurl.com/bXAW0L

Author Interview With Julie Arduini

Hey Folks! Today I'm honored to introduce to you Christian author and speaker, Julie Arduini.

Julie loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the upcoming re-release, ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as the sequel, ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past, set for a spring release. She also shared her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities at JULIE ARDUINI: SURRENDER ISSUES AND CHOCOLATE and the weekly e mail. SUNDAY’S SURRENDER AND CHOCOLATE.

Welcome, Julie! We're so glad you could visit us today.  What made you decide to become a writer?

It’s been a process. I was scribbling “stories” on paper before I could even write. It’s always been in me. As a student, I was never the best writer and was in fact discouraged by teachers to make writing my career. I played it safe and worked more with publicity, but the desire to write was always there. Once I became a mom, I started writing for my local Mothers of Preschoolers newsletter. I loved it and would have been happy to do that as long as they would let me. I felt a nudge that I believe was God sent to surrender that writing project and trust Him to write for Him, no matter where it took me. It was obedience that finally placed me where I was always meant to be.


Where did the inspiration for your latest book come from?

Entangled came to be as I was writing Entrusted, the first book in my newly re packaged Surrendering Time series (formerly Adirondack Romance series.) I noticed Jenna’s best friend, sheriff Carla Rowling, emerging with a strong secondary story that I wanted to explore. In trying to figure out how to tie up loose ends in Entrusted, God dropped an ending that not only gave resolution to the story, it busted the door wide open for me to write Carla’s story.

My purpose in all I do is to encourage audiences to find freedom through surrender. I meet with a lot of women who see the potential God has for them, but they are so stuck in shame for something they did in the past they won’t embrace the forgiveness He already gave them. Entangled explores Carla’s forgiven past and how even with everything she’s ever wanted right at her fingertips, her lack of surrendering the past causes a lot of entanglements.

Your website tagline is Surrender Issues, and the Chocolate. Where did this come from, and what does this mean to you?

I recently re named my website to reflect the new direction the Lord has me on. Surrender and chocolate have always been a part of my writing, but this year God re directed me to take this theme and make it my literal business. I am now an independent author and speaker and everything I write will always include surrender issues and chocolate. My tagline is “Encouraging you to surrender the good, the bad, and---maybe one day---the chocolate.” My business is Surrendered Scribe Media, the name I started out with as a writer. I vowed to write whatever the Lord gave me, when He asks. Surrender starts with me. I want to be seen as a trusted voice because surrender is something I’m always going to be walking through. I’ve tasted enough freedom that God gives through surrender to want to cheerlead everyone willing to do the same. To show everyone that sometimes He asks us to let go of good stuff like a home or a job we enjoy. There are bad things we need to surrender like habits or life controlling issues. And in authenticity, God might ask us to surrender something down the road. Chocolate is something very much a part of my life, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to that. Thankfully, He hasn’t required that of me yet. But, I have changed my habits so I no longer eat M&M’s for breakfast.J So surrender and chocolate is a theme I believe readers will associate with me, and I pray they partner with me as we all surrender together.

How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

It’s central to everything. I’m committed to being his vessel He can use. I’m not only praying and listening to His voice and leading, I have a team of prayer warriors that cover my writing in prayer. I vowed I won’t write without Him, and whatever He asks me to share, I will. It’s a hard and lonely calling, but I know I’m fulfilling the purpose He has for me.

What are you working on next?

Both Entrusted: Surrendering the Present (a re-release) and Entangled: Surrendering the Past are due to release later this spring. The series finishes later this year with Engaged: Surrendering the Future. Trish Maxwell was the “bad girl” from Entrusted and in Engaged, she’s back in Speculator Falls with no city job and egg on her face. She has to work with the very people she offended in her quest to leave her rural hometown for life in the big city. Trish isn’t sure what’s next for her, especially after she befriends a handsome newcomer who loves mountain living. I’m having a blast with Engaged, and I believe readers will love Trish’s story.

Very interesting. Looks like you have some great stuff going on. Thank you so much for being with us! 

Readers, here's how you can connect with Julie.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427852247&sr=8-1

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

Weekly Sunday’s Surrender and Chocolate: http://eepurl.com/bJ5yHP