Where I Was Planted

Where I Was Planted: In the spring of 1961, ten-year-old Nate Dooley, also known as Weenie, has a revelation—his father is not a good one. 

Inspired by National Geographic, his favorite thing next to the Bible storybook his mother gave him before she died, Nate plans to leave his father and their home in the Smokies to set out on adventure. 

When he discovers his father has left him first, it takes the help of a stray dog, some kind neighbors, a one-man-band, letters from a long-lost aunt, and a new understanding of God, to figure out he isn’t really alone. 

Will he find that Copper Creek is where he's always belonged? Or will his wanderlust keep him from ever coming back?

Heidi here. Heather Norman Smith weaves a page-turning story in her second novel, Where I Was Planted. Set in 1961, this novel is a throw-back to a simpler time. No cell phones, no internet. In fact, not many people had televisions or telephones in Cooper Creek. I loved reading a book set in this time period, made me long for the simpler life myself. This book was about ten-year-old Nate, who had lost his mother and didn’t have much of a relationship with his father. When Nate’s father left him, Nate just kept on living in their little house all by himself. He got himself up for school every day, did his homework in the evenings, washed his clothes every week, kept the house picked up—all at ten years old! For me, that was equally amazing and incredibly sad.

Where I Was Planted was well written and the plot carried me through until the very last page. A captivating and introspective read. Grab your copy today!

Join me on Saturday when I interview author Heather Norman Smith!

Author Interview with Cynthia Roemer

Today I am pleased to welcome Cynthia Roemer back to Stitches Thru Time. Cynthia Roemer is an award-winning inspirational writer with a heart for scattering seeds of hope into the lives of readers. Raised in the cornfields of rural Illinois, Cynthia enjoys spinning tales set in the backdrop of the 1800s prairie. She writes from her family farm in central Illinois where she resides with her husband and their two college-aged sons. Under Prairie Skies is Book Two in her Prairie Sky Series.


Welcome Cynthia! We're so glad you could visit us today. Tell us about your book.
Hi, Amber. Thanks so much for hosting me.

Under Prairie Skies is the second book in my Prairie Sky Series and carries with it the theme of “iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17). In Book One: Under This Same Sky, readers are introduced to Charlotte Stanton as the spoiled cousin of heroine, Becky Hollister. In this second installment, readers get a glimpse of the reason behind Charlotte’s jealous nature when she meets handsome newcomer, Chad Avery. The Lord uses them to sharpen each other by exposing their weaknesses and turning them into strengths.

Where did the inspiration for your story come from?
After Becky and Charlotte parted ways in Book One, I knew readers would want to know why Charlotte had been such a stinker. So I decided to delve deeper and give her a story all her own.


Your book seems to deal with family difficulties. Can you tell us why you chose this topic?
My intention was not to dwell on family issues, but more so on how the Lord uses people to “sharpen” each other. In Under Prairie Skies, Chad and Charlotte both have issues that need dealt with. As iron sharpens iron, the Lord uses them to refine each other and draw one another closer to Him.


What do you hope readers walk away with after reading Under Prairie Skies?
It’s my prayer that in reading Under Prairie Skies readers will see how God can use people to speak His truths into each other’s lives and “spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) All in a spirit of love and encouragement.


Why did you choose this setting?
I’ve always had a fascination with nineteenth-century America. I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie and have such a respect for how life was back then when neighbors helped neighbors, a handshake was all it took to seal a deal, and honesty, integrity, and faith in God were the rule.


What are you working on next? 
Currently, I’m working on Book Three in my Prairie Sky Series entitled, Under Moonlit Skies, which is slated to release in September, 2019. It is the story of Charlotte’s younger sister, Esther and takes place in 1858, three years after Under Prairie Skies ends. I’m excited about this third installment in the series, part of which takes place in historic Cincinnati, Ohio in the Pre-Civil War era. I’m enjoying the research as I write.

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

Be Inspired! By Shirley Raye Redmond

So, today is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day. Who knew? Most dictionaries
define “art” as the various branches of creative activity—such as
painting, music, literature and dance. As we are created in the image of
God, it is no wonder that we enjoy being artistic, for our Heavenly Father
certainly is. Quilting, drawing, woodworking, candle-making, cross
stitching…there are so many ways to pursue one’s creative outlet.

We are wired to enjoy beauty too. God made us that way. Edith Schaeffer,
the wife of theologian Francis Shaeffer, once wrote: “If you have been
afraid that your love of beautiful flowers and the flickering flame of the
candle is somehow less spiritual than living in starkness and ugliness,
remember that He who created you to be creative gave you the things with
which to make beauty and the sensitivity to appreciate and respond to His
creation.”

I like to write novels and read books. I like to draw birds and bake pretty cookies. I also enjoy looking at images of people reading books. My friend Blanche thinks that’s odd, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to see other people reading. I’m including a few artistic images of girls reading. Can you guess which illustration was painted by Pierre Renoir?
You’d be surprised how many photographs and paintings of people enjoying books you can find online.



Which one do you like best?

And what will you do today to inspire your heart with art?

Storm Warning

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly… 1 Thessalonians 5:2

Streaking from the dark clouds above, a lightning bolt struck the center of the empty soccer pitch with my daughter’s team playing on the next field. When the referee refused to stop the game, another off-duty ref agreed to help and we ran to the officials stand.

The officials agreed to stop the games, but their method was far too slow. Riding a golf cart from field to field of the large complex would never send the kids to safety in time. As fast as I could run, I returned to my daughter’s game and told the referee to send the kids to the cars. One after another, girls sat down to pull off shoes, socks, and shin guards in the pelting rain, lightning crackling overhead. Yelling to leave their things and run, we finally cleared the field.

Drenched and breathing hard, I ran to my own car, satisfied that everyone was safe.

“Mom, are you crazy? Did you ever think you might be killed?” My seventeen-year-old daughter’s indignant tone showed both concern and embarrassment at my rampage to clear the fields.

Never once did I feel concern for myself. All my thoughts were for others in danger from the fast-moving storm. “No.” I replied. “All I thought was that those kids might die. I’m an adult, and I know where I’m going when I die.” 

People die every day without the certainty of heaven. Our world belittles Christians but fails to heed the call to salvation. They are quick to blame God, but slow to approach him for help. In recent years, natural disasters and attacks by dangerous and depraved men have rocked our world. There is no safety, and often no warning. It’s more critical than ever for Christians to speak out about the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

How many would find salvation if I proclaimed the gospel with as much fervor as I stopped those soccer games? What if Christians gave no thought to their reputation or the reaction of others in order to warn others of the approaching storm of judgment?

I must determine to live each day in the light of the Cross. People’s lives depend on it.

© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, October 10, 2015, October 13, 2017

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with her, you're invited to follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon. 

Welcoming award-winning author Sarah Sundin!

Hi all! So excited to welcome this amazing author to visit with us today!

Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep is a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award, won the INSPY Award, and was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. She also enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers’ groups. Please visit her at http://www.sarahsundin.com.

First of all, Sarah, I want to say how much I love your latest book, Anchor in the Storm! Lillian and Arch immediately drew me into their struggles and aspirations, and as always your setting is so rich and alive. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series! 


We know you have been writing for a while now and have a wonderful backlist of WWII romances. But when did it all start for you? What made you decide to become a writer?

In 2000, I woke one morning with a dream that wouldn’t let me go. I had to write it. As a stay-at-home mom and a pharmacist, I had no plans to become a writer and no idea what to do! Over time I joined a writers group and started attending writers’ conferences. After years of writing, learning, rewriting, and rejection letters, my first novel, A Distant Melody, was published in 2010.

It is quite the journey to get to where you are! As I’ve already said, I love your latest book. Plenty of romantic tension and danger. Where did the inspiration for Anchor in the Storm come from? 

My husband is also a pharmacist. A few years ago, he made a transition from medical research to community pharmacy—at the height of the narcotic abuse epidemic that’s finally making headlines just now. He began cracking down on shady prescriptions, which were clearly being used to funnel narcotics to the black market. In my overactive novelist’s imagination, I wondered what those drug kings were thinking. Would they try to get their revenge on my husband? So I transferred the situation to the World War II home front and made the scenario more dramatic by making my fictional pharmacist a woman…with a disability.

I must say, Lillian's disability, how she dealt with it and her struggles really endeared her to me. She had a lot to overcome, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I do love the inspirational elements in your stories. How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing? 

Since I teach women’s Bible studies, I’m familiar with how we “mature” Christians still struggle with elements of our faith. My spiritual themes come out of each character’s experiences and personalities—the fears and shame and pride and misconceptions about God that hold them back. Often these are areas I’ve worked through myself or am currently working through. I want to portray the reality of walking with Christ—the detours, false steps, and delays—but also His steadying, patient presence that is always there for us, urging us forward.

So true and beautifully put. What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?

Although a story theme emerges in each novel and I dream of how that could affect readers’ hearts, I’ve learned God is far bigger than my themes. I’ve received countless emails and messages from readers who tell me how some element of a story challenged them or touched them or convicted them. It’s often something I never intended. But that’s how God works—He takes my feeble words, rearranges them, and inserts them in His children’s minds and hearts to teach what He wants to teach. I’ve learned my only job is to obey and keep churning out the feeble words for Him to play with.

I think being an instrument in His hands is the most rewarding part of writing inspirational fiction. 
Now for something really random. Let’s say you are running against a deadline, or something else is life is stressing you out. What is your favorite comfort food or beverage? 

I need to chew. If I’m being naughty, that means gumdrops or gummy bears, something with some give—plus a fruity flavor. If I’m being good, I grab the chewing gum. A few days before my daughter’s wedding last summer, my mother teased me about how hard I was chewing that gum.

LOL. 
Speaking of favorites, what is one of your favorite scenes from Anchor in the Storm? 

Speaking of chewing…(ha!) One of my favorite scenes takes place at Boston’s landmark restaurant, Durgin-Park, which was famous for its surly waitresses. Lillian Avery is new to town and is insulted by the surliness, but then her friend (and future love interest) Arch Vandenberg clues her in. I’d planned to have Lillian simply relax and enjoy the food and company, but Lillian surprised me. She gave the waitress some sass, and their banter made me laugh. Plus, it baffled poor Arch. So I kept it.

That was a really fun scene. :) 
Now, Anchor in the Storm is the second book in your Waves of Freedom series and I am looking forward to book 3 that releases early next year. Is there anything you can tell us about When Tides Turn?

When fun-loving glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont learns the Navy has established the WAVES program for women, she enlists, determined to throw off her frivolous ways and contribute to the war effort. No-nonsense and hoping to make admiral, Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills to fight German U-boats. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. For her part, Tess works hard to prove her worth in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit in Boston—both to her commanding officers and to the man with whom she is smitten. When Dan is assigned to a new escort carrier at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he’s torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help Tess root out a possible spy on shore. The Germans put up quite a fight, but he wages a deeper battle within his heart. Could Tess be the one for him?

So much to look forward to! Thank you so much for joining us today, Sarah. For me it has been a huge treat. We look forward to all your future projects! 

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy—even if he is her brother's best friend. During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

If you have read any of Sarah's books, which was your favorite so far? Do you have any personal connections to WWII?


Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for  Dawn of Liberty by Amber Schamel! Winner announced in the Weekly Windup on July 18th. Check out all of our great prizes on the Prizes Galore page.

5 Things I Learned from my First Chalkboard Art

Blogger: Amber Schamel

I have recently found a new hobby that I have been enjoying immensely. Anyone who is on pinterest can't help but notice all those adorable chalkboard sayings. I decided that a chalkboard with inspirational sayings was exactly what I needed in my bedroom. I could put a saying on it, and when I got bored of it, I'd just erase it and make a new one.

Little did I realize...

My first one turned out...not so great. But I did learn a lot in the process! So I thought I would share what I learned, in case anyone else has a hankering to try their hand with chalk.

My First One.

Five Things I learned from my first chalkboard art:

1. It Isn't As Easy As It Looks.
   I am not a real artistic person. I love crafts and DIY, but when it comes to drawing and art, I can't even draw good stick figures. Sigh. Well, if I had known how artistic these chalk things really are, I probably would have given up without even trying. I figured you just pick up a piece of chalk and write in good handwriting. Not so. These babies are ART. Mixed with calligraphy. Did I mention I failed those two classes in high school?
   
2. Pre-Plan your end result.
   I usually google a how-to before I begin a project, and chalk art was no exception. Many of the tutorials that I saw said "sketch out your design before you begin." However, I thought I could eliminate this unnecessary step, since I had a clear picture of what I wanted in my mind. Not to mention I'm horrible at 'sketching.'
   As I began a free-handed design, I realized how much I didn't have as clear of a picture as I thought. Did I want all the words in the same font? Did I want one of the words bigger than the others? Did I want any decorations besides the words themselves?
   
3. Use a Ruler
   It didn't take very many free-handed strokes before I realized that I needed a ruler. My letters were not uniform, and they certainly weren't in a straight line. Not only that, I needed a ruler to make them evenly spaced, and to measure how to get the word centered on the chalkboard. I drew horizontal lines where I wanted my words to be, and then later erased the lines once the words were in place. That's another great thing about chalk art. You can erase mistakes or unneeded lines! AMAZING.
   
4. Sharpen Your Chalk - and have different points.

   

   Calligraphy Point Chalk Stick

   
   While regular boring white crayola chalk is the best (at least from what I've read), you can't just pull it from the box and expect to have good results. You have to sharpen your chalk, just as you would a pencil. In fact, the old-fashioned pencil sharpeners work great. I like to sharpen my chalk into three different forms. A fine point, a wide point, and a calligraphy point. The calligraphy point you'll have to use a knife or the like, and carve off the two opposite sides to leave a wide calligraphy pen point as in the picture here.
   
   
5. Cheating Helps.
   After the disappointing results of my first one, I decided I needed a little more help. I found a tutorial that said you can actually design your art on a word document and then print it. Rub chalk on the back of the paper, then tape the paper (chalked side down) onto the board, and use a pen to trace the design onto the chalkboard. It will leave faint lines that you can then trace and fill in for your final result. It worked marvelously! Especially for an art-impaired individual such as I. Eventually, I may be able to free-hand a nice design, but right now I am content to trace.

After utilizing the tips above, I tried again. This is how my second chalkboard art turned out.

My Second Attempt.

And here's one I did this week for Easter.

My Third. Sorry it's a little blurry.

I've got a lot to learn yet, but I'm finding that they are fun, relaxing, and I get to enjoy them for a while. Now if I can only find more places to hang them...

Are you artistically inclined? Have you ever tried Chalk Art?