Favorite Quotes of 2014

By Andrea Renee Cox

It’s been a wild and crazy year that swept by without giving me a chance to catch my breath. Even though 2014 is winding to a close, my proofreading job is picking up speed. I started last January, by proofreading Dianne Price’s Broken Wings.

The publishing company that released it—Ashberry Lane—had put a rush on the job to try and beat death. Dianne succumbed to cancer one week before the release of the first book in her Thistle Series. Because Dianne’s journey had touched my heart, I felt moved to help promote her books. So I bought a copy of the first one as soon as it released and let the publisher know I would help spread the word about it. When Christina Tarabochia emailed me back, she asked me to keep my eye out for typos along the way. I took her seriously … and earned a spot on her staff.

Throughout this year, I’ve worked with her and a few other clients, and word is still spreading about what I do. Currently, I’m working on back-to-back-to-back jobs, with two overlapping a smidge. I’m thrilled to be so busy and to have the privilege of juggling my schedule to have Christmas off. Not only that, but the last one I’ll receive this calendar year will be my twelfth official proofreading job, which means that I had one for every month of the year. They may have been spaced out at first and bunched together at the end, but I think it’s really neat that, in my first year of this work, God chose to bless me with exactly twelve jobs, which matches the number of months within the year. This new career is such a blessing to me, and I thank God every day that He gave me a job I love and can do from home.

Now that I’ve summed up my whirlwind 2014, let’s take a look back at some of my favorite quotes in books I read in my free time. All of these books I enjoyed very much. If you’re looking for last-minute gifts for those book-lover friends or relatives of yours, I’m certain this list should get you started.

“In a period of only a few minutes, my life had been turned upside down.”

A Simple Change by Judith Miller

“Jesse was making a studied effort to let patience have its perfect work in him.”

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

“My head is full of ideas and thoughts, and my mouth is never reluctant to share them.”

Through the Deep Waters by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“But what was a girl to do when the memory of a kiss stalked her?”

You Made Me Love You by Beth K. Vogt

“Who knew a dream potentially coming true could feel so … scary? And yet, how long had she prayed for an open door?”

Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg

“Restaurants may have been my first love, but that didn’t mean we were meant to be.”

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

“Getting lost hadn’t been part of the plan.”

Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt

“Lord, how much more does my heart have to bleed?”

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

“… it seems that as we plan to teach others, God often makes us the pupil first, just so we get the lesson real deep within before we try to share it.”

The Kissing Bridge by Tricia Goyer

“Sometimes you had to know when to leave so you could fight another day.”

Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman

“I’ve got a scream could peel the paint off the Titanic, you know.”

All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti

“She’d managed to wring an address out of the postmaster, now all she needed to do was convince a madman to hire a female secretary before he blew her to bits.”

Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer

Marc: “I started to [pray], but it’s not like I can expect God to perform a miracle.”

Abe: “Why not?”

Second Time Around by JoAnn Durgin

“Faith isn’t just a matter of what you believe; it should be seen in the way you live and the way you treat others.”

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

“A man’s horse dropping dead in the middle of nowhere left a man with few options.”

A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton

Phillip: “There’s a baby in here, buddy—not a bomb.”

Erik: “I’d rather handle a load of dynamite.”

A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt

“God made you with unique skills and talents. Ask Him how to use those for Him and His glory.”

White Christmas by Cara C. Putman

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara C. Putman, and Sarah Sundin

 

“I guarantee no woman has ever fallen in love with me after one kiss. It takes at least twenty. I happen to be quite resistible.”

I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Sarah Sundin

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara C. Putman, and Sarah Sundin

“Could her choice to be joyful make that big a difference to all the men around her?”

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Tricia Goyer

Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara C. Putman, and Sarah Sundin

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What were some of your favorite books of 2014? Care to share any quotes that stuck with you? What books are you looking forward to reading next year?

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below. And don’t forget to drop by next Monday for my latest article.

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Be My Guest - JoAnn Durgin

My next guest is a sweet woman I met a couple years ago while on vacation. We had a great time chatting over dinner at my favorite restaurant, Cheddar's. Now, she's here to tell us all about how she finds inspiration for her novels. Friends, please welcome JoAnn Durgin.

Source of Inspiration

By JoAnn Durgin

Where do you get the inspiration for your characters and their stories?

This question comes up quite frequently, especially now that I’ve had a number of books published. Another author once told me that I’d need to come up with a “satisfactory” answer to that question—something other than “God gave them to me.” In the end, my answer remains the same as it has from the beginning of my writing journey. But more about that in a minute.

Real life is one of the best places to find story and character ideas. Writers are naturally keen observers of people and life. Give me an airport—especially an international terminal—and I’m in writer’s heaven, studying everything from body language to the way they’re dressed. I wrote a blog once about my observations on a 12-mile drive to work. Try it sometime. You may be surprised and enlightened. Here’s a link if you’d like to read it: http://authorculture.blogspot.com/2012/02/dont-let-life-pass-you-by-by-joann.html.

Digging even deeper, my own life experiences have greatly influenced some of my stories and characters. How could they not? My debut novel, Awakening, and the first in my Lewis Legacy Series, is loosely based on my love story with my husband, Jim. More than the story itself, however, the character of Sam is based on Jim and yours truly is the heroine, Lexa (although she’s feistier than I am). Lexa’s grandmother is my grandmother: sipping tea on a summer porch, stringing pearls and picking apples to make a pie. Lexa’s father is also my father but with a different profession. I poured so much of my life into that book that it will forever remain the book of my heart. Meet Me Under the Mistletoe features a unique aspect of Jim’s character that I knew I’d need to write about one day.

In my subsequent books, I share character traits with my heroines. For instance, in Daydreams, one book, Amy drinks half Coke, half Diet Coke. If the server remembers to bring lemon after she requests it, they get an extra little tip. I do that. Cassie, in Moonbeams, makes the observation that she can’t sleep with herself if she doesn’t brush her teeth before going to bed. Pointing to myself here! My newest heroine in Sleigh Ride Together with You, Nicole, is a morning television show co-host in Des Moines, Iowa. Nicole shares my strong desire to give her viewers (readers, in my case) something meaningful to carry them through the day.  

The biggest impact can sometimes be derived from the seemingly insignificant details. One of my books, Second Time Around, features a hero whose famous father died from a brain tumor. His father had pushed everyone out of his life and died a lonely, broken man. After reading that book, a reader wrote that she called her estranged sister who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Like the hero’s father, she’d been pushing everyone out of her life. As a result, the reader and her sister reconnected. I ask you, how awesome is that?

The other primary way I find story ideas is from newspapers, television and other media. If you’ll pardon the cliché, truth is indeed stranger than fiction in many instances. How many times have you read or heard something and ask, “Whhhaaat?” I read an article in the Philly newspaper once about a region in the foothills of Western Maine that has the largest concentration of certain gemstones than any other area its size in the entire world. I found that interesting and constructed a story around it. I’m hoping to release Heart’s Design in 2015. I’ve always been interested in space exploration, and one of my favorite books in my series is the upcoming Pursuit about my NASA shuttle commander. Ideas abound everywhere and they’re just waiting to be discovered!

My answer to that question about where I find my inspiration? I remember telling the author, “My inspiration comes from the Lord.” She stared at me, aghast. “You can’t say that!” she said. “That’s not enough.” While I love this person, I disagree. What better, more satisfying answer could there be? He is the reason I write and that will never change. If it weren’t for the grace, mercy, faith, love, and hope to be found in a relationship with Christ, I would not be where I am today in terms of my writing career. I’ve recently *transitioned* (a softer word for retired) from a full-time paralegal career to being a full-time author because of His faithfulness. Again, I’m reminded of this verse: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)

I found this photo recently (see below). When the inevitable challenges come in my writing career, I’m going to read it again. It’s not pretty, it’s not flowery, but this is something my sweet Jim has told me time and time again. How I love Jim’s faith in my writing ability, and what this says. God is always faithful, and I always intend to be faithful to Him.

Blessings, friends. Matthew 5:16

Check out JoAnn Durgin's latest release, SLEIGH RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU. It's on sale for only 99 cents until the end of the year.

As the popular television co-host of Wake Up, Des Moines! Nicole Reardon has achieved her dream. So why has the network sent “image maker” Alex Kingsfield to the station? The irritatingly handsome man is also the first man she’s been attracted to since Jake Marston dumped her three years ago in Starlight, Iowa. When an unexpected assignment sends Nicole and Alex to Starlight, can she rise above the past and make this interview the defining moment of her career?

Alex Kingsfield knows Nicole is poised on the cusp of network stardom. But beneath the profesional exterior is a small-town girl at heart, genuine and God-honoring. Alex holds the power to boost Nicole's career to unknown heights. Or crush her dreams. From any angle, he's caught in a "no win" situation when he finds himself falling for the beautiful Nicole. What's a man to do when love comes calling at Christmas?

JoAnn Durgin is the author of The Lewis Legacy Series, Catching Serenity, Echoes of Edinburgh, and the Starlight Christmas Series.  JoAnn lives in southern Indiana and loves to hear from her readers!

Website:

www.joanndurgin.com

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin

JoAnn, I love the answer you gave. Must say, it's the same one I would give. God is so inspirational. Thanks for visiting with us today. Your new book sounds wonderful, and what a great price! I hope my readers discover how wonderful your stories are.

Readers, how has God inspired you lately? Tell of a time you transitioned to a new phase of life and discovered you loved it even more than the previous one.

Thanks for stopping by today! I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below. And don’t forget to drop by next Monday for my latest article.

Would you like to be my guest? Here's how to submit an article.

Do you need a proofreader? Here are the services I offer.

Trending: eShorts

A relatively new trend in Christian fiction caught my attention recently. Electronic short stories—or eShorts—are popping up everywhere you turn. The neat thing about these miniscule books is that their authors have discovered several different ways in which to use them.

Some writers pen novellas intended for eReaders. JoAnn Durgin’s Meet Me Under the Mistletoe and Starlight, Star Bright are great examples of this type.

Others choose to give their readers a bonus book to share more details about a supporting character the readers fell in love with in a full length novel. Roseanna M. White gave us a glimpse of Isaac Fairchild’s life beyond Ring of Secrets with her eShort, Fairchild’s Lady.

In an upcoming eShort, available for pre-order now at only 99 cents on Amazon.com, You Made Me Love You delivers the much anticipated (at least by me!) bonus story of what happened to Seth Rayner after Beth K. Vogt’s Wish You Were Here.

 

Another style in this growing trend took me by surprise, mostly for its uniqueness. Joanne Bischof’s Heartfelt Recipes is part cook book, part mini-story. Both accompany her Cadence of Grace series. She’s called it a cookbooklet, which I think is a cool term.

Then there’s a series of novellas written by different authors, all with similar themes. A prime example is the Year of Weddings series. It features authors such as Deborah Raney, Rachel Hauck, Katie Ganshert, and Denise Hunter, among others.

Still another type of eShort I’ve enjoyed is the stand-alone connector. Authors of this kind use them to connect two non-series books (a.k.a. stand-alone novels). Kim Vogel Sawyer released one recently, called Just As I Am, that fits between her novels What Once Was Lost and Echoes of Mercy.

With such variety in this new trend, I’m sure authors of all styles of writing will be able to find one that works for them. And I’m sure their readers will love getting their hands on these bonus books. I, for one, am eager for the next one to come across my Kindle!

Which of your favorite authors has tested the eShort waters? Are you a fan of this growing trend? What trends have you noticed lately?



Don't forget, I've recently updated my website here at Writing to Inspire. Now there's a page about the proofreading services I offer. Feel free to share it with your writer friends!

Starlight, Star Bright

Even though Christmas is over and we've begun a new year, Christmas books and novellas never go out of style, in my opinion. What do you think?

Here's a bit about a Christmas novella I read recently:

When a soccer star gets stranded in a small town in the middle of winter, will he discover God’s hand in the detour? During the off season, Italian soccer star Dante Moretti traveled to Starlight, Iowa, and ended up stranded there. When Amanda Marston comes home for her brother’s wedding, she catches Dante’s eye. Will his fame stand in the way of true love? Or will her small town heritage drive a wedge between them?

Starlight, Star Bright is the second of JoAnn Durgin’s books that I’ve read. She’s got a spunkiness that comes across in her stories with flair. You never know what her characters are going to say next, and it’s that unpredictability that kept me hooked on this Christmas novella. Loveable characters and great settings made the story seem real, like it was happening next door or in my own backyard, even though I live many states away from Iowa.

“The people here [in Starlight] are the best in the world. At least they are to me.” Amanda Marston said that in chapter four. I think it’s true of a lot of places. It’s the people around us that add depth and quality to our lives. Starlight, Star Bright showcases this perfectly. If you like small town living, or want to escape your busy life for a few hours, pick up a copy of Starlight, Star Bright, by JoAnn Durgin, for your eReader today.

If you were stranded with no way to get back on the road, would you take a look around and see what blessings you could glean from your surroundings? Or would you grouse about how you couldn’t get where you were supposed to be when you were supposed to be there? How do you handle life’s detours?

Favorite Quotes of 2013

Since we’re now in December and nearing the end of the calendar year, I’m looking back today at some of my favorite quotes from books I read during the year. Have you read any of these titles yet? If you’re looking for a great read for the holidays, any of the following would be a fabulous choice. Happy reading!

 

“The truth is always fitting.”

            Broken Wings by Dianne Price

“Some things in life don’t get better when they’re rushed. Marriage is one of those things.”

            Jennifer by Dee Henderson

“For now, just do the thing right in front of you that makes sense, and let Him take it from there. There’s going to be a way through this.”

            Jennifer by Dee Henderson

“I decided every female doctor needed a Sully.”

            Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt

“A lot of us make plans, Griffin. And then life changes.”

            Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt

“But when a single woman bought a house, it was like admitting that she was alone. Like a widow.”

            Gone South by Meg Moseley

“See, that’s the great thing about faith—the more you need, the bigger it grows.”

            Lakeside Family by Lisa Jordan

“And I won’t settle—even if it means staying single for the rest of my life.”

            Lakeside Family by Lisa Jordan

“Alexia decided she much preferred the visible enemy of a good fire to murder, personal attacks, and home invasions.”

            When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

“I always feel better when I’m ministering to someone else, even if the someone else is a cat.”

            What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“Dear Lord, why must I always fall short?”

            What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“Your driver’s license and social security card only prove your identity, but they don’t show me who you are.”

            Awakening by JoAnn Durgin

“Tell Lincoln husbands—pretend or otherwise—don’t grow on trees.”

            Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

“Because somehow saving the show meant saving herself, her identity.”

            Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

“Better a life among enemies than a noose around her neck.”

            Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White

“Women are baffling, George. Baffling. They complain if you treat them as pets but grow bored if you treat them as equals.”

            Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White

“Letting go can be a harder way to love than holding on.”

            My Hope is Found by Joanne Bischof

“One can only search for so long before you realize there are just some things you cannot outrun.”

            My Hope is Found by Joanne Bischof

“It’s time for you to drop your bucket deep down into the well of possibilities that you’ve been ignoring all these years. Drop it all the way down and see what you pull up.”

            Sisterchicks on the Loose! by Robin Jones Gunn

What book quotes have struck your fancy this year? Any books you recommend I add to my to-be-read list?

A Spunky Adventure -- Awakening by JoAnn Durgin

Spunky adventure.

That’s the only way I know how to sum up JoAnn Durgin’s Awakening. Her witty sense of humor shines in the banter between Sam Lewis and Lexa Clarke, two characters I know you’ll love getting to know. This book is a refreshing read that will have you believing TeamWork is a real organization . . . and you’ll want to join their next mission!

Lexa Clarke may be running from her past, but it might just catch up to her while she’s helping as a volunteer for a two-month summer mission with TeamWork. As she assists in rebuilding houses destroyed by flooding in San Antonio, trouble seems to follow her around in all shapes and sizes. Sam Lewis quickly realizes he’s got to keep his eye on Miss Lexa Clarke if he’s to keep trouble from interrupting his work as director of this TeamWork mission. Watching the petite woman with the long blonde braid proves to be a challenge worth accepting, even if it means facing his own haunting past. Will Sam and Lexa let the problems they’ve never dealt with drive a wedge between them as they discover a passion for serving the Lord in new ways? What will become of the TeamWork group when trouble turns combustible?

Sam tells Lexa in chapter two, “I’m saying He [God] allowed it to happen. He has His reasons. It’s up to us to try and figure out what He’s trying to tell us.” It’s neat to see how Sam’s and Lexa’s differing levels of faith play such huge roles in their lives during their work with TeamWork and in the other parts of their lives, as well. Each character has their own trials to face, and they depend on their faith in God in such unique ways that it really does inspire the reader to take a good look at their own faith life and reconsider where they are with God. Are we following His will for our lives? Are we making a positive difference in the world around us? Is there something more we can do to better serve the God who loves us so completely? Is there something from our past that we need to face in order to be a vessel God can use to spread His message?

JoAnn Durgin

Awakening is a book worth reading for its sense of adventure, plot twists, witty humor and a glimpse at what it means to live what you believe. It’s the first in JoAnn Durgin’s The Lewis Legacy Series. I’m eager to add to my collection, and I have a feeling you will be too, after reading this first adventure. JoAnn sure has a knack for storytelling, and her pacing is spot-on. Just when I thought everything was wrapped up, she brought back yet one more loose end . . . and another one . . . and left me wanting to read the second book in the series to find out what adventure the TeamWork crew will find themselves in on their next mission.

Thank you, JoAnn, for sending me a complimentary copy of Awakening for my honest review. I enjoyed it immensely and hope those reading this will also find a little adventure when they pick up their copy of Awakening.

When was the last time a book took YOU on an adventure? What was it about the book that transported you to a different time or place? Is adventure something you look for when reading for pleasure?

Summer Reading!

Yes, summer is in full swing. Perhaps we’re even on the downside of summer. (But none of us really want to think about that yet, do we?) Usually during June, July and August, I read as many books as I can. This summer is no different. I’ve got a full slate of books on my list to read this summer. Take a peek!

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason, Revell, 2012

After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother’s home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson—and a handsome detective.

 

Jenna’s Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater, Revell, 2010

Jenna Callahan Colby thought she was content. A partner on her father’s successful ranch, she is surrounded by family and friends. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in town—the first guy she ever noticed, the one her father sent away all those years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as strong as ever.

Prairie Song by Mona Hodgson, WaterBrook Press, August 2013

Though it means saying good-bye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri, quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boone’s Lick Company Wagon Train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression, and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new.

*Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah for my advanced reader copy for an upcoming review.

Awakening by JoAnn Durgin, Torn Veil Books, 2010

Lexa Clarke signs up for a TeamWork Missions summer assignment expecting adventure in a far-off, exotic country. Instead, she’s sent to sweltering San Antonio to help rebuild homes destroyed by sudden flooding. She survives the four-hour bus trip from Houston, dust in the lungs, a flat tire, a tool-throwing incident and a spitting goat—not to mention an inquisition from a distractingly handsome cowboy—all before reaching the work camp. What will she find once she gets there?

*Thanks to JoAnn Durgin for my complimentary copy. Stay tuned for an upcoming review.

What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer, WaterBrook Press, September 2013

On a small Kansas farm, Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out leaving the house uninhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear “family.” Will the incident and its aftermath destroy Christina’s hopes of fulfilling the mission to which she’s dedicated her life?

*Thanks to Kim Vogel Sawyer for my advanced reader copy as a member of her Hope Harbingers “street team.”

Mysterious Ways by Terry W. Burns, River Oak, 2005

When Amos Taylor steals a parson’s clothes, he thinks he’s found the ideal disguise to hide his life of crime—until an old blind man enters his life who has a little trick up his own sleeve. Before long the disguise is working too well: The local residents start expecting Amos to actually serve as their preacher! When revival breaks out in the small Texas town, Amos’s payoff is bigger than he could have dared imagine—proving, indeed, that the Lord works in Mysterious Ways.

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg, Bethany House, September 2013

Miranda Woodruff has it all. At least, that’s how it looks when she’s starring in her homebuilding television show, From the Ground Up. So when her network begins to talk about making cuts, she’ll do anything to boost ratings and save her show—even if it means pretending to be married to a man who’s definitely not the fiance who ran out on her three years ago. When a handsome reporter starts shadowing Miranda’s every move, all his digging into her personal life brings him a little too close to the truth—and to her. Can the girl whose entire identity is wrapped up in her on-screen persona finally find the nerve to set the record straight? And if she does, will the life she’s built come crashing down just as she’s found a love to last?

*Thanks in advance to Melissa Tagg for my advanced reader copy as a member of her Tagg Team influencer team.

Now it’s your turn! What books are on your summer reading list?