Saturday, December 14, 2024

A Dog Named Speed by Larry Fitzgerald

About the Book

Book: A Dog Named Speed

Author: Larry Fitzgerald

Genre: Fiction

Release date: December 4, 2023

Join Speed, the most adventurous pup ever, in “A Dog Named Speed” by Larry Fitzgerald! Speed had a rocky start in life, living in a cave beneath the Blue Mountains of Oregon, battling freezing winters, sneaky coyotes, and even a junkyard keeper with a trigger-happy finger. But Speed’s luck takes a turn when he’s rescued from a watery disaster and adopted by Babe, a young newspaper boy.

As Speed and Babe grow up together, they embark on thrilling adventures in the wilds of Oregon, discovering secret fishing spots and having daring encounters. Speed becomes Babe’s trusty sidekick, and together, they form an unbreakable team.

But it’s not just about Speed and Babe; this story is packed with excitement and surprises! Speed meets Kate, a lively Australian shepherd, and their connection adds even more adventure to the mix. Plus, there’s a deeper message about faith and friendship that will make you think.

If you’re ready for action, friendship, and a heartwarming tale, “A Dog Named Speed” is the book for you. Get ready to cheer for Speed and Babe as they navigate life’s ups and downs and discover the true meaning of loyalty and love. This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and warm your heart at the same time!

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions

Author Interview

● What was the most challenging part of writing your book?

This was my first book. My biggest challenge was learning and recovering from my mistakes with Microsoft Word. Unfortunately, it still is. Writing comes easily, but I practically had to use the whole Geek Squad to bail me out of trouble many times before I finished the book.

● What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

I was undoubtedly reminiscing as I wrote the story. The book is about my life with “A Dog Named Speed,” the book's title. Speed was a stray collie I adopted as a boy growing up in the mountains of Eastern Oregon.

● How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?

There was a natural avenue for this in my book. Speed was a faithful companion whose love for me was unconditional. The greatest truth I learned from Speed was how to treat my Master. Speed tells the story from his POV as he waits in heaven for his master to come home to him. From this vantage point, I could easily bring the Biblenumerous times into Speed’s story.

● Was your writing process spontaneous as it came to you or very planned and organized? Why?

It was spontaneous. I remember seeing him from a distance for the first time as he followed me on my paper route, never daring to come close to me initially. Then, eventually, we did everything together, including sleeping in the top bunk in my bedroom. I needed no outline or plan. I just had to pull it out and put it on paper.

● Why did you pick this genre for your book?

My favorite genre is YA. I was a youth soccer coach for several years. I remember how I was influenced by the coaches for whom I played when I was in school. I think our young adults today need a lot of direction. Wholesome stories and positive coaching can be invaluable resources young people can draw from today. I just finished my new book about two soccer players and their coach. I don’t have a name for it yet.

About the Author

Larry Fitzgerald, a retired businessman turned youth soccer coach, infuses his writing, managing, and coaching with an unwavering commitment to Christ’s Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Concerned for today’s youth growing up without spiritual guidance, Larry took to writing. Larry’s impactful short fiction is showcased in anthologies like “Stories from the Attic” (2022) and “Fortunes” (2023) by AA Inc. Publishing. His stories transcend pages, offering beacons of spiritual enlightenment for a generation navigating a world where God’s presence is often obscured.

More from Larry

Writing the story about Speed and the newspaper boy should have been a slam dunk. All I had to do was remember the years between my ninth and eighteenth birthdays—not all of it, of course, just the time my dog Speed and I spent together, which was, basically, all of it. Getting the story into my computer was easy. The hard part was getting it out of my computer and into the format(s) required for publishing and marketing. That was and continues to be a challenging learning experience. Someday, I may write a book about that.

The great thing about my book, A Dog Named Speed, is that it’s a true story except for the parts where Speed is not with me, alone, or with other animals. Those were imagined but very plausible. The story is told from the dog’s point of view, from heaven, as he awaits his master to join him.

Speed was a stray dog who started following me as I delivered newspapers in a small town in Eastern Oregon. He would not come near me despite my enthusiastic efforts to win his favor. He was afraid of all humans, which I assume came from having been mistreated as a young dog. Our coming together happened only when Speed was desperate and had no choice but to reach out to me.

After that, Speed and I were rarely apart. We shared many exciting times centered on fishing adventures, camping trips, and ball games. Speed and I slept together every night. He followed me to school each day and waited faithfully for me to get home so he could join in whatever was in store for the evening.

The most important thing I observed about Speed was how he treated his master. I knew Speed loved me unconditionally. As the story affirms, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to come to my aid. As this became clear, I began to think about how I treat my Master, Jesus Christ. Was I faithful? Was my every thought about Him? Were my first thoughts when I woke up every morning about Jesus? I am certain Speed’s were of me.

My book was written for young people, but it has found a broader audience as well. Any reader who has ever owned a dog can relate to this story. I am blessed to have owned A Dog Named Speed.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 13

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 14

A Reader’s Brain, December 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 15

She Lives To Read, December 16

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 18

Back Porch Reads, December 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 22

Little Homeschool on the Prairie , December 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Larry is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54117

Friday, December 13, 2024

Falling for a Humbug Cowboy by Karen Baney

About the Book

Book: Falling for a Humbug Cowboy (Vargas Ranch Book 5)

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Contemporary Christian Cowboy Romance

Release date: November 5, 2024

Book: Falling for a Humbug Cowboy (Vargas Ranch Book 5)

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Contemporary Christian Cowboy Romance

Release date: November 5, 2024

She’s the happiest person he’s ever met. His world has turned upside and he’s in no mood for Christmas. Will these coworkers find middle ground as they head into the holidays?

Reeling from a shocking family secret, Drake Vargas heads into the holiday season grumpier than he’s ever been. He can’t seem to get his footing and his new barista is way too much sunshine for him.

Candi Kaine loves Christmas! Nothing can stop her sunny disposition. As she starts a new job at Vargas Ranch, she’s determined to fix the grumpy, hipster cowboy who just happens to be her boss. Nothing will deter her from making sure he experiences a very Merry Christmas.

Will Drake find his joy again or has Candi Kaine finally met her match?

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an

endorsement of all author's opinions.

Author Interview

What was the most challenging part of writing your book?
As if writing a Christmas themed novel set in the Arizona desert wasn’t hard enough, I wrote it during some of the hottest Arizona months of the year. To help me get in the mood, I listened to Christmas music and sat in my front living room with two fans on! I also turned on my electric fireplace without the heat setting. Come to think of it, I’ve never used the heat setting on that thing. Anyway, all that helped me get in the mood to write a Christmas story.

What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?
I really enjoyed sharing some of the uniquely Arizona aspects in this book—like a weekend tripto Flagstaff in December where the characters get snowed in. That’s happened to me twice.And it’s the only way I see snow at all these days. ��

How do you weave Biblical truths into your writing?
Weaving the spiritual arc for a character feels natural to me. As the character grows personally, and believes, then it makes sense their Christian walk would be challenged too. One thing that inspires me, especially when writing a character who first comes to a saving faith, is listening to testimonies from real people. Each story is different, but God draws each person to Himself. I look for motivators and catalysts and then incorporate those into my writing.

How many books do you personally own?
That’s hard to answer. I still have about 50 to 75 paperback books on my bookshelf at home—mostly non-fiction, spiritual growth, writing reference material, or research material. On my eReader and phone, I have roughly 1000 books and audiobooks. Those are mostly fiction.
Have I read them all? No. Do I still buy more books anyway? YES!

What is your next big goal as an author?
This year, one of my goals was to write a Christmas themed, sunshine-grumpy trope. That’s Falling for a Humbug Cowboy. My next big goal is the next book in this series, a surprise single dad story with a big twist. Throw in some dual secret crushed and a teenager… Loving it! I’ve also wanted to write a true second chance romance for a divorced couple. I’m (slowly) working on a manuscript to kick off another contemporary western series that I hope to submit
to a traditional publisher.

About the Author

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

More from Karen

Inspiring My Christmas Mood by Karen Baney

In Falling for a Humbug Cowboy, I had a lot of fun incorporating classic holiday songs (and the occasional Christmas story) into scenes to add flavor and sometimes intensify the character’s feelings.

It was purely accidental at first. I love classic Christmas songs and during the holiday season my hubby and I listen to a lot of Holiday Traditions on Sirius XM.

So, when I described a scene where Candi helps Drake decorate the dining hall, I just wrote that she switched the overhead music to a Christmas station and belted out Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. The next thing I know, I’m three song mentions in. So, I decided to make deliberate use of songs.

When I was struggling to get in the mood to write a Christmas novel in the dead of summer (108+ in July in Arizona!), I loaded up my phone with several playlists. One of the first songs was Feliz Navidad and I knew I had to find a way to use it. It would be the perfect song to show off Candi’s fun personality and draw Drake out of his humbug mood.

I hope you enjoy this Christmas playlist from the novel with a few sneak peaks of how I used the songs:

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer – Candi belts out the tune while working.
White Christmas by Bing Crosby – Candi “crooned along with Bing Crosby, making a nice duet”.
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole – causes Drake to picture holding Candi close, swaying to the music.
Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives – playing while Drake helps Candi with a rush of customers.
Feliz Navidad – Candi dances around Drake until she gets him to dance and sing along.
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Dean Martin – Candi notices the not-so-humbug cowboy walking away, ratcheting up her interest.
Christmas in Your Eyes by Travis Shaw – playing during a special moment between Drake and Candi.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas by Michael Bublé – Candi’s lunch with a friend.
Mele Kalikimaka – Driving to Flagstaff together to play in the snow.
All I want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey – sets the stage for Drake’s proposal on July 25^th (Christmas in July).

What’s your favorite Christmas song? By a specific artist or any artist? Please share in the comments, I’d love to know. 😊

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, December 11

lakesidelivingsite, December 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 13

A Reader’s Brain, December 14 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 14

Texas Book-aholic, December 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 16

Back Porch Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 18

Lighthouse Academy, December 19

Devoted To Hope, December 20

Simple Harvest Reads, December 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, December 22

Labor Not in Vain, December 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 24 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54116

Memoria (Nightingale Trilogy Book Three) by J.J. Fischer

About the Book

Book: Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy Book Three)

Author: J. J. Fischer

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Release date: December 10, 2024

Would you save a life if you knew it would destroy another?

In the deeply divided world of Caldera, nothing is as it seems. Taken captive by a faceless enemy, Sephone Winter fights to reclaim her soul as her gift pirals out of control and the deadly poison coursing through her veins begins to exact its terrible vengeance.

Meanwhile, Dorian and Cass are forced into an uneasy alliance in order to find the woman they both love . . . a woman who has all but vanished from the face of the earth, along with the Reliquary. Finding her becomes impossible as the identity of their greatest adversary continues to elude them.

When Caldera’s past catches up with the trio’s future, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass are forced to make decisions that threaten everything and everyone they care about. Each of them is offered a chance to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the other—but will they take it? And what will it cost them in the end?

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author's opinions.

Author Interview

● What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

I did love writing the resolution to this one. The characters go through so much pain and

suffering, it was wonderful to see my hero and heroine finally get their happy endings. And the

resolution to a certain Slooooow-Burn Romance was also pretty fun to write.

● Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

The heroine of The Nightingale Trilogy, Sephone (Persephone) Winter, is partially based off

myself. Sephone has my soft soul and gentle heart—I’m a very heart-on-my-sleeve kind of girl.

All my other heroes and heroines reflect little parts of me, but Sephone probably resembles me

the most.

● Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

I can write at any time of the day, but I particularly enjoy writing at night—especially if it’s raining

or storming outside!

● How many books do you personally own?

Hard to estimate…definitely in the hundreds! Maybe more, if you count ebooks. ��

● What is your next big goal as an author?

I’m currently planning a sci-fi dystopian—and I’ve never written in that genre before. We’ll see

how it goes!

About the Author

J.J. Fischer’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals shepainstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five. Jasmine began writing her first proper novel at age fourteen, which eventually became her debut fantasy series, The Darcentaria Duology, which was published in 2021. She is a qualified psychologist with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in clinical psychology. When Jasmine isn’t killing defenseless house plants, she enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours north of Sydney, Australia.

More from J.J.

Have you ever felt God’s comfort in the midst of a horrific trial?

In 2021, midway through writing Memoria (Book 3 of The Nightingale Trilogy), my husband Dave and I were blindsided by his discovery of several sizable lumps on his neck. Those lumps turned out to be lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), requiring immediate treatment.

2021 had already been a shocking year for us (and everyone else!). I’d lost both my remaining grandparents in the space of a few months. We were in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and one of the harshest lockdowns my state of New South Wales (Australia) had yet seen—which would necessitate going into further isolation while Dave underwent chemotherapy. And while I’d just received a diagnosis for my chronic illness, my recurring migraines (sometimes multiple a week) made it difficult for me to reliably drive Dave to and from his chemotherapy sessions.

But in one of the hardest times of our lives thus far, God provided. Dave made it through his chemo and has been in remission for some time now (though we’re still dealing with the consequences of the treatment in regards to fertility). I was able to drive him to all but two of his chemo sessions, and family and friends supported us in incredible ways. I’ve now received treatment for my chronic illness, which has helped me significantly and allowed me to take on more work as a freelance editor.

Eventually, I got back to Memoria, and wrote the second half of the story. And now, in hindsight, I can see the importance of God’s timing. Because Memoria is a story about pain—how we respond to it, what we do with it, and how it can poison our soul, if we let it. And ultimately, this book points to Jesus, the only one who can handle that pain, that poison, without succumbing Himself.

Are you struggling with a well of pain and suffering (and/or sin) in your own life? Perhaps not just things that you’ve done, but things that have been done to you? Are you struggling to keep your head above the raging waters, feeling swamped and pummeled by all God’s waves and breakers (Psalm 42:7)?

For starters, I want you to know that God keeps track of all your sorrows, every tear you cry (Psalm 56:8). You might feel invisible to the world, but you are not invisible to God. He knows everything about you, even the things you’ve never shared with anyone before. Even the pain you might not yourself have acknowledged.

The second piece of encouragement I want to share is that God promises to one day wipe all those tears from your eyes (Revelation 21:4). He won’t let those tears fall endlessly into eternity, ruining the perfect future He has in store for you. He will comfort you. He will bring you into his house, rejoicing over you. He can handle your pain (even the poison) without succumbing. Even your death is not the end of the story, because death was not the end of His.

I wrote The Nightingale Trilogy partly to deal with the pain of things in my own life. But as this series draws to a close, I hope it is a blessing to you in whatever season you’re going through right now (or will go through in future). I hope it reminds you of Eternity, and that you are greatly loved by the God who died to reclaim your soul.

God bless,

J. J. Fischer

Blog Stops

A Reader’s Brain, December 14 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 15

The Lofty Pages, December 16

Back Porch Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, December 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 20

Fiction Book Lover, December 21 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

Guild Master, December 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 26

Inspired by Fiction, December 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.J. is giving away the grand prize of a special edition hardcover copy of the book, a signed bookplate, and character art!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54118

Friday, November 29, 2024

A Canine Christmas by Jennifer Sienes

About the Book

Book: A Canine Christmas

Author: Jennifer Sienes

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance, Christmas Fiction, and Southern Fiction

Release date: November 18, 2024

What do you get when you mix a mail carrier, a monstrously large canine and his surly owner, and a mysterious death?

Amelia Hutchinson can’t seem to find her place in the world. Or maybe she’s just watched too many Christmas Hallmark movies. But come on, how come Aurora Teagarden and Hallie Dean get more exciting careers and all Amelia gets to be is a mail carrier? Not to mention, she’s living in her sister and brother-in-law’s guest house and the only man she could find was one who didn’t appreciate the purity ring her daddy gave her.

Rayce Jasper just wants to sell his late granddad’s farm and throw away the painful past that comes with it as soon as possible. But the memories of the man who betrayed him, a ditzy mail lady, and a strange request put a kink in his agenda.

As Rayce’s and Amelia’s worlds collide, neither of them can deny that God must be weaving His own Christmas story for the two of them.

Click here to get your copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own and not an endorsement of all author’s opinions.

Author Interview

What was the most enjoyable part of writing your book?

The most enjoyable part of writing A Canine Christmas was getting to know main character, Amelia Hutchinson. Although I often try and spend some time planning out my characters’ personalities, this is one instance where I was writing more by the seat of my pants. Amelia surprised me with how funny she was—and it’s always fun to write when the characters take over the story.

• Are any of your characters based off of yourself or those close to you?

I have had many of my stories inspired by challenges people close to me have gone through. I’ve never actually based a character off someone specifically, though. Maybe a quirk or character flaw that I’ll include for variety, but not their personality. I never want someone close to me to read one of my books and recognize themselves even slightly. I would feel as if I’d betrayed them. And no, none of the characters are based off myself—they’d be much too dull to keep my readers’ attention.

• Do you have a favorite time of day you are most productive in your writing?

I’m an early-morning person—always have been. If I’m not up by 4:30, I feel as if I’ve wasted the best part of the day. For that reason, my most productive time of day is before lunch. After lunch, I work on other things, such as blog posts, my podcast, marketing, or my newsletter.

• How many books do you personally own?

I have no idea how many books I own! If I were to count only print books, I’d guess a couple hundred. But I also have a slew of ebooks, as well. I prefer to read print—I just love the feel of flipping the pages and holding it in my hands. But ebooks are less expensive and more easily acquired through sources like BookBub.

• What is your next big goal as an author?

My next big goal is to launch into self-publishing. I’ve been traditionally published until now, so this will be a challenge. That being said, I am also working on my next series, which is a little challenging, as well. It is still Southern Fiction and still romance, but it will have the added background of the railroad to give it a unique twist.

About the Author

Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance and writing–and puts it altogether in inspirational contemporary fiction. Her daughter’s TBI and brother’s suicide inspired two of her three novels. Although fiction writing is her real love, she’s had several non-fiction pieces published in anthologies–two in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has two grown children and one very spoiled Maltese. California born and raised, she recently took a step of faith with her real-life hero and relocated to Tennessee.

More from Jennifer

I’m often asked where inspiration comes for my books. Does it start with a character or a setting or maybe something from my own life? The answer is, “Yes.” Each of those have sparked story ideas. A Canine Christmas is my fourteenth book, but it’s the first (and possibly last) novel/novella motivated by a dog.

You would think it would be my own canine that inspired one of my books—but that’s not the case here. I have a short story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog titled “Soul Sniffer” based on my late Bichon Friese, Einstein. He was also in Providence—and his name was Dashiell. I have another short story in Inspire Joy titled “Canine Redemption” about Cheyenne, a rescue dog we had for a short time. But an entire book? Never.

It started with my granddaughters’ Cano Corso, Porter. The biggest (and I mean that in every sense of the word) baby I’ve ever encountered. He’s massive, and yet hides behind eight-year-old Kennedy at the slightest loud noise. His size alone is enough to intimidate the average person, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. However, he wasn’t the only inspiration for this Christmas novella.

The setting was influenced by my affinity for old family farms and historic cemeteries (of which there are over 33,000 in the state of Tennessee.) Add a ditzy mail lady who has an intense fear of dogs, and a disgruntled man trying to put his past to rest, and A Canine Christmas was born.

This is romance through and through, and it was a pure joy to write. I hope you’ll come to love Amelia and Rayce as much as I did—and of course, Porter, the canine matchmaker.