Write This Way

BOOK REVIEW - Life Support by Robert Whitlow

2012-01-29T20:33:00.003-06:00

I love to lift up writers, and especially to help authors take their writing new levels, so It breaks my heart to have to write a poor review. I dislike it so much that I only agree to review books that I'm almost positive I will like. Unfortunately, I guessed wrong with Life Support. I agonized over whether to post a poor review, but Thomas Nelson specifically tells its book review bloggers that they want honest reviews. Not only that, but I made an agreement when I accepted the free book from them that I would post a review on my blog an at various on-line book sellers, and I feel very strongly about the importance of keeping my review. So here it goes, the very first (and I hope, last) poor review on Write This Way.

BOOK REVIEW - Life Support by Robert Whitlow

In this novel, a bright young divorce lawyer is assigned to represent a woman whose husband remains in a vegetative state after an accident. But this woman doesn’t want a divorce; she wants to unplug his life support.

Although Life Support is billed as a legal thriller, it lacks the tension and conflict required of the genre, and moves much slower than suspense-lovers expect and want. The focus on the ups and downs in the protagonist’s life and the impact this case has on her make this book more of a drama, or perhaps women’s fiction, than suspense.

The author's writing is very good, with good sentence structure and flow and a nice voice. Unfortunately, it didn’t pull me into the story. Backstory and rambling internal thoughts regularly interrupted the flow and slowed the pace of the story to a crawl at many places. I actually found the antagonist's point of view to be much more interesting than the protagonist's, probably because the tension and conflict were much more pronounced from her perspective.

The lack of conflict and the slowdowns had me skipping pages. Eventually I gave up and moved on to other books in my To-Be-Read pile in search of something that would pull me into the story and hold my attention.

As much as I would like to give a three to this book because the author is obviously an excellent wordsmith, I simply can't. To me, the story is king, and this story did not pull me in. There just wasn’t enough tension and conflict to make me want to keep reading the book.

I am sorry to say that I rank this book at only two stars.

Suzanne Hartmann - 2012

Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/

FREEBIE FRIDAY

2012-01-27T11:22:00.001-06:00

Faith Hope and Love by Heather McBride

CB - Finders Keepers by Catherine Palmer

CB - Highland Sanctuary

The Journey (The Adventures of Jecosan Tarres) by Laura Lond
Love In Bloom by Karen Rose Smith
CB - A Texan's Promise (Heart of a Hero) by Shelley Gray
CB - A Time for Peace (Quilts of Lancaster County) by Barbara Cameron

NON-FICTION
No new non-fiction this week

Still Free:
FICTION
CB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
CB - Directed Verdict by Randy Singer
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
Light Of Eidon by Karen Hancock
Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
My True Essence (Christian Fiction) by Shawneda Marks
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) by Robin Parrish
Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
Sheltering Hearts by Robyn Carr
Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith
The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
Tiger Moths by Sandra Grice

CB - Too Close to Home (Women of Justice Series #1) by Lynette Eason CB - To Love Anew Sydney Cove Series #1) by Bonnie Leon
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

NON-FICTION
CB - The 7-Day Doubt Diet
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B and H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James
CB - Up, Down, or Sideways by Mark Sanborn

Happy reading!

Suzanne Hartmann
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 4

2012-01-26T10:49:00.001-06:00

Don't Use Backstory Dumps
Definition = large chunks of information about events that take place before the novel begins, often history about the main character

Example = The main character was a victim of theft six months ago and she thinks her ex-fiancé did it. A backstory dump would drop in all of the information on when it happened, what was missing, and why she thinks her ex-fiancé was behind it.

Why we should avoid backstory dumps
1) They don't move the story forward.
2) They slow down the pace of the story.
3) Less backstory is needed to explain the events of the novel than most new authors think. Only put in enough to explain something the reader MUST know to understand the current events.
4) Agents and editors don't like to see backstory dumps in the first chapter. Some don't even like to see them in the first three chapters.
5) They often jar the reader because they stop the forward motion of the story, jump backward, then drop the reader into the current story again.

How to fix backstory dumps
Determine which parts of the backstory dumps (if any) are truly necessary to allow the reader to understand what's going on in the story. Parcel out those important pieces in tiny bits where each is important. Resist the urge to explain everything and only include enough to explain what is currently happening.

Example = Let's say the main character in the above example has been through as series of events which have brought her to the brink of poverty.
Bits of backstory could be inserted in the following places, but only the pertinent information, not the entire backstory dump.
1) She's scouring the house for items she can sell on-line to get some quick cash and thinks of all the things she lost in the robbery that she could have sold.
2) Her ex calls with information that could lead to a windfall for her. She remembers why she thinks he was behind the robbery and wonders if she can trust him.

Learning how to drop in backstory without jarring the reader or stopping the story makes the story flow much better. So find those backstory dumps, ruthlessly weed them out, and find more natural ways to drop in the information that is essential. Your story will be much better for it.

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 5
Return to list of Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing
List of Top 10 Series

Suzanne Hartmann - 2012
http://www.suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - K. DAWN BYRD

2012-01-23T05:30:00.000-06:00

Please welcome K. Dawn Byrd to Write This Way. She is the author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense with five boks published so far. Recently, she tried her hand at young adult fiction, which resulted in her three-book Zoe Mack Mystery Series, scheduled to release January, June, and December 2012. Shattered Identity, the sequel to Mistaken Identity, will release in April.

She is also an avid blogger and keeps up a popular blog on which she gives away several books per week: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444.

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

Here's a little about the first book in the Zoe Mack Mystery Series:

Zoe's cousin Emma thinks she's the recipient of some sick joke when an old boyfriend she thought dead shows up on the internet. Can Zoe solve the mystery that's causing Emma so much pain when her attraction to the town bad boy is so distracting?

When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she's thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can't wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn't talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he's in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate's name, and make him fall in love with her?

BOOK TRAILER

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
1) How did this story come to you?

Sometimes I get the strangest ideas! I love a good mystery and I love romance, but you don't find the two together very often. Also, there are very few books available with college-age characters. I pitched the idea of combining all of the above to Desert Breeze and the rest is history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

I had already published several books with Desert Breeze when they opened a young adult line. I'm excited that they liked the idea for this new series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

1) I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs.

2) I love sour things....pickles, lemons, sour candy.

3) I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up in order to have more time to write. (My husband always wanted to stay out way too long and take the scenic route home. He still has his bike, but I don't miss mine at all.)

series.

4)What are you working on now and what's next for you?

I just finished the edits on my April release, Shattered Identity, which is the sequel to Mistaken

Identity. I'm now working on the second book in the Zoe Mack

5) Parting comments?

Thank you for hosting me! For those of you who love Christian fiction, please check my blog for weekly book giveaways. I interview 3-5 authors a week who give away their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

You can find K. Dawn Byrd on-line at the following places:
Website: www.kdawnbyrd.com
Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com and www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd

Thank you so much for stopping by and telling us about your new series. Congratulations and may God bless your writing endevours.INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

FREEBIE FRIDAY

2012-01-20T10:46:00.002-06:00

FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS!

The books listed below with a "CB" in front of the titles are available at Amazon AND ChristianBook.com (non-Kindle version). All others are available from Amazon only.

To access the books at ChristianBooks.com, click here: CB BOOKS. You will have to download Adobe Digital Editions before you can download books, then you can transfer them to your e-reader.

**NOTE** Because free offers change frequently, make sure the book is still free before purchasing.

New This Week:
FICTION
Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride (Emma Rae Creation) by Sandra D. Bricker
CB - Directed Verdict by Randy Singer
Divine Invasion by Michael Monhollon
Long Time Coming by Vanessa Miller
Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) by Robin Parrish
A Time to Love (Quilts of Lancaster County Series #1) by Barbara Cameron
Tiger Moths by Sandra Grice
Valeria's Cross by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales

NON-FICTION
CB - Up, Down, or Sideways by Mark Sanborn
Still Free:
FICTION
CB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
CB - Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
CB - A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
Light Of Eidon by Karen Hancock
Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
Man of God by Debra Diaz
My True Essence (Christian Fiction) by Shawneda Marks
Ordained Irreverence by McMillian Moody
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
CB - Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
Sheltering Hearts by Robyn Carr
Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith
The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
CB - Too Close to Home (Women of Justice Series #1) by Lynette Eason
CB - To Love Anew Sydney Cove Series #1) by Bonnie Leon
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

NON-FICTION
CB - The 7-Day Doubt Diet
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B and H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James

Happy reading!

Suzanne Hartmann
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

REVIEWS, ARTICLES, AND FEEDBACK (Oh my!)

2012-01-18T05:30:00.000-06:00

Feedback has been rolling in for my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, and I am humbled by the wonderful responses.

Newspaper Articles
I have been blessed that two awesome articles have been written about PERIL in local newspapers, and shocked that one took an entire page!

Edwardsville Intelligencer's THE EDGE Magazine:
Troy Mom Cranks Out First Novel

Alton Telegraph:
Writing on the Fast Track

Reviews
Eight reviews have been posted at Amazon:
PERIL REVIEWS

Reader Feedback
Readers have given me some of the best compliments a person can give an author, that PERIL kept them up late or kept them reading when they needed to be doing other things.

I finished Peril last night, and the story kept me turning the pages. The only problem is that I want to hear more! How fast can you write?

Julie T.

I'm serious. I can't put "Peril" down. So good! I'm going to need a couple more copies.

Shannon M.

I've just (7 am here in Oz) finished "Peril" and wanted to thank you for it. It's a great read and I'm looking forward to your next book.
Glen W. (Australia)

It's awesome!
Michael M. (17 years old)

Awesome! Intriguing! Intense! Ready for the next book.

Julia W.

I was riveted when Lady Anne's leg shattered and pieces of her identity began coming together for Stuart. At that point, I couldn't put it down.

Ann M.

I totally enjoyed Peril! I look forward to Book 2 and can't wait to see where you're going to take this story.
Holly M.

The story kept me turning the pages. I really liked it!!! The only problem is that I want to hear more! How fast can you write?

Julie T.

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 3

2012-01-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

Minimize the Usage of Participial Phrases
Definition = phrases that begin with a verb ending in -ing

Examples:
1) He jumped over the guardrail, holding a gun.
2) Clutching the blanket, the toddler hid his face in the teddy bear.

Why we should avoid participial phrases
1) It is extremely easy to overuse. Using it more than once per page will often draw the readers' attention to the structure, which will cause them to notice your writing rather than your story. Personally, when I edit, I don't like to see more than one every three to five pages or so.
2) Participial phrases, like the progressive tenses discussed in Part 2, are often used to show that two things happen at the same time. It is better to vary the way you show this and use participial phrases sparingly.
3) You can create a dangling participle (see below) if not careful.

Ways to rephrase participial phrases
From the examples above:
1) While holding the gun, he jumped over the guardrail.
He held onto the gun as he jumped over the guardrail.
2) The toddler clutched the blanket and hid his face in the teddy bear.
The toddler clutched the blanket. He hid his face in the teddy bear.

The dreaded dangling participle definition = a participle "dangles" when it doesn't describe the closest noun.

Example:
Looking at the picture, the scene reminded me of our vacation.
The nearest noun for the participial phrase to describe is "scene", but a scene can't look at the picture.

Correction = Looking at the picture, I remembered our vacation.
Even better, don't use a participial phrase = The scene in the picture reminded me of our vacation.

Adding variety to your sentence structure will add spice to your writing and make it more interesting. Often we don't even realize we're doing it, so it's worth the time to review your writing and see if you have a tendency to overuse participial phrases.

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING- PART 4
Return to list of Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing
List of Top 10 Series

Suzanne Hartmann - 2012
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

2012-01-13T15:01:00.001-06:00

FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS!

The books listed below with a "CB" in front of the titles are available at Amazon AND ChristianBook.com (non-Kindle version). All others are available from Amazon only.

To access the books at ChristianBooks.com, click here: CB BOOKS. You will have to download Adobe Digital Editions before you can download books, then you can transfer them to your e-reader.

**NOTE** Because free offers change frequently, make sure the book is still free before purchasing.

New This Week:
FICTION
CB - The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom
CB - From Ashes to Honor (First Responders) by Loree Lough
CB - Lady of Bolton Hill, The by Elizabeth Camden
The Master's Wall (Iron & the Stone) by Sandi Rog
CB - Medical Error by Richard Mabry
CB - The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer Allee
CB - Shrouded in Silence by Robert L. Wise
CB - Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan

NON-FICTION
None new this week

Still Free:
FICTION
CB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
CB - Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
CB - A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
CB - Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Light Of Eidon by Karen Hancock
Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
Man of God by Debra Diaz
My True Essence (Christian Fiction) by Shawneda Marks
Ordained Irreverence by McMillian Moody
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
CB - Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith
CB - The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
CB - Too Close to Home (Women of Justice Series #1) by Lynette Eason
To Love Anew Sydney Cove Series #1) by Bonnie Leon
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley
CB - The Witness by Dee Henderson

NON-FICTION
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B and H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James
CB - The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister

Happy reading!

Suzanne Hartmann
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 2

2012-01-11T05:30:00.000-06:00

Use a Simple Tense Instead of a Progressive Tense
Definition = Progressive tenses show continuing action. They include a form of "to be" plus a verb participle (usually is or was with a verb ending in -ing). Progressive tenses show continuing action.

Examples:
1) She was walking down the street.
2) He is doing his homework.

This continuity of the action can also be shown with the verbs "begin/begun" and "start/started."

Examples:
1) She began folding clothes.
2) He starts writing the note.

Whether written either way, unless the action is interrupted, the action comes across better when you use the simple tense.

Examples:
1) She walked down the street.
2) He does his homework.
3) She folded the clothes
4) He writes the note.
Why we should avoid the progressive tense
1) The helping verb used in the progressive tense dillutes the focus on the active verb.
2) Unlike in a movie, where we can see multiple actions at the same time, in writing events can only be described one at a time, even if they happen simultaneously. For example, when a bar room brawl breaks out, a drunk throws the first punch, his girlfriend screams, and the bartender ducks all at the same time, but we have to write about them them one at a time.

Compare the examples below:
Progressive tense = While Billy Bob was throwing a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann was letting out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender was ducking under the counter.
Simple past = When Billy Bob threw a wild punch at Dueling Dan, Sue Ann let out a bloodcurdling scream and the bartender ducked under the counter.

As you can see, the simple tense is less wordy and it shows the action better by keeping the focus on the main verbs.
TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING- PART 3
Return to list of Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing
List of Top 10 Series
Suzanne Hartmann - 2012
Author of PERIL: FAST TRACK THRILLER #1

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 1

2012-01-09T05:30:00.000-06:00

Don't use the Passive Voice
Definition = when the subject receives the action. The passive voice is usually expressed in two ways: 1) the subject is not mentioned, or 2) the subject and object are reversed.

Examples:
1) The life jacket was thrown into the water.
The subject is not mentioned. We don't know who threw the life jacket.
2) The life jacket was thrown into the water by the captain.
The captain is the subject—the person who threw the life jacket—but the order of the sentence has been reversed to put the object (the life jacket) before the subject.

Why we should avoid the passive voice
- Active verbs are stronger and descriptive, which makes the writing more vivid.
- The helping verb diverts some of the attention away from the main verb, which minimizes the action.

How to Fix the Passive Voice
Add the subject and make the verb active.
The captain threw the life jacket into the water.

Another Way Writing Becomes Passive:
When a form of "to be" links the subject with a description in the predicate (the part of the sentence after the verb).

Example: The kingdoms were at war.
"At war" tells us something about the kingdoms.

Correction = Use a strong, active verb to describe the action
The kingdoms warred with each other.
The kingdoms engaged in war.

Watch for passive voice in your writing and weed it out. Using active verbs will make your writing more vivid and descriptive.

TOP 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING - PART 2
Return to list of Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Writing
List of Top 10 Series

Suzanne Hartmann - 2012
AUTHOR OF PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

FREEBIE FRIDAY

2012-01-06T11:18:00.002-06:00

FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS!

The books listed below with a "CB" in front of the titles are available at Amazon AND ChristianBook.com (non-Kindle version). All others are available from Amazon only.

To access the books at ChristianBooks.com, click here: CB BOOKS. You will have to download Adobe Digital Editions before you can download books, then you can transfer them to your e-reader.

**NOTE** Because free offers change frequently, make sure the book is still free before purchasing.

New This Week:
FICTION
CB - The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, Book 1) by Janette Oke and Davis Bunn
CB - Jenna's Cowboy: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas) by Sharon Gillenwater
CB - Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Messages by John Michael Hileman
CB - Too Close to Home (Women of Justice Series #1) by Lynette Eason
Taerith by Rachel Starr Thomson
CB - The Witness by Dee Henderson

NON-FICTION
ChristMas or SantaMas by Allan Dziwornu and Prangnat Chininthorn
Devil Unknown (Bandit Creek Books) by Steena Holmes and Carla Roma
CB - The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister
CB - Unfriend Yourself by Kyle Tennant

Still Free:
FICTION
CB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
CB - Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan A Day and a Half in Christmas by Colin Cohen
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
Halfway Dreaming: A by Faith Not by Sight Urban Romance Novel by Felicia Johnson
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
CB - A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
It's Alexandra by A. E. Praytor
Laser and Sword: Winter 2008 Edition (Laser and Sword Magazine) by Adam Graham and Andrea Graham
CB - Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
Man of God by Debra Diaz
My True Essence (Christian Fiction) by Shawneda Marks
Nephilim Genesis of Evil by Renee Pawlish
Ordained Irreverence by McMillian Moody
CB - The Pawn (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 1) by Steven James
Praise Jerusalem! by Augusta Trobaugh
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
CB - Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
The Thief by Clifton Voshen
The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
Through The Storm (Rain Series - Book 5) by Vanessa Miller
CB - To Love Anew (Sydney Cove Series #1) by Bonnie Leon
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

NON-FICTION
CB - 7-Day Doubt Diet, The by Renee Swope
Game Plan for Life by Joe Gibbs, Tony Dungy and Jerry B. Jenkins
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B and H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James
What's So Great About Salvation? by James Somers

Happy reading!
http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Hartmann
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

NASCAR CALENDAR GIVE-AWAY

2012-01-05T05:30:00.000-06:00

It's January--time to flip the last page off the calendar for 2011 and get ready for the new year.

To help you do this, I am giving away a calendar:
THE TRACKS OF NASCAR
If you love NASCAR (or know someone who does), you'll love hanging this on your wall.

WAYS TO ENTER:

You must be a follower to enter.

You may accumulate up to 5 entries.

1) Go to my Fast Track Thrillers website and send an e-mail to homestead1997-blog@yahoo.com with the any or all of the following information. One entry per correct answer.

- The name of the endorser who wrote the foreward

- Watch the book trailer and tell me one of the places where things get explosive.

- The name of protagonist Stuart Jackson's crew chief

2) Share a link to this post on FB or Twitter or your blog. One entry for each share. (please post a link to your share in a comment below)

A minimum of five people must enter, so spread the word.

Entries will be accepted through 1/14.

GOOD LUCK!

Suzanne Hartmann

Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/

FIRST-HAND RESEARCH FOR PERIL WITH MIDWEST RACEWAY MINISTRIES

2012-01-04T07:36:00.000-06:00

Whenever an author starts a novel, there will eventually come a point when he or she needs to do some research. Most of the time we search for information on-line or check books out from the library. Maybe an interview or two is in order. In the case of my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, I had a fantastic opportunity to gain first-hand experience through an organization called Midwest Raceway Ministries.

I have to admit, however, that this is an opportunity I almost missed. When I discovered Midwest Raceway Ministries, I was under the impression that they ministered to the families of the racecar drivers and their crews. So when I talked with Greg Doussard, the director of Midwest Raceway Ministries and found out that they mainly minister to fans when there are injuries at the track, I was disappointed.

I prayed over it and when I didn’t receive the information about the ministry that I requested, I figured that was God’s answer: this ministry wasn’t for me. But God had a different plan. I received a phone call a couple of months later. Normally I check caller ID before I answer the phone, but this particular time, the light glared on the display and I could only tell that it was a local call. Since it probably wasn’t a sales call, I picked it up. It was Greg and he asked me if I was still interested in volunteering with Midwest Raceway Ministries. Without even thinking about it, I hear myself tell him that I was.

And I’m very thankful that God orchestrated all of that. Not only did I gain first-hand experience working at NASCAR Nationwide and Truck races over the next four years, but I also discovered that I liked being out on pit road watching the cars take qualifying laps and running the race. Once I finished writing PERIL, Greg also volunteered to read it, then to endorse it! Here is his wonderful endorsement:

“Give Suzanne Hartmann the checkered flag for her new book, Peril: A Fast Track Thriller. This novel is like being on the race track, packed with fast-paced excitement and intrigue, and you never know what is going to happen next. Each new turn in the story also shows the importance of one’s relationship with God. This book is a great read for any racing fan and/or person of faith.”

To think of all that I would have missed if I had ignored God’s obvious attempt to connect me with this wonderful ministry.

Here’s a little about PERIL and how the NASCAR aspect fits into this Christian suspense novel:

PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

A top-secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

A top secret agent with enhanced strength, who must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments, from the White House to NASCAR tracks, while escorting the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity. When unwanted publicity and the attention of a NASCAR champion threatens to expose her secrets, she becomes a terrorist target with danger surrounding her on all sides.

“Plenty of action and unexpected twists.”

Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

For more more articles about PERIL and its sequels, visit my website:

FAST TRACK THRILLERS

You can find PERIL at:

Amazon

Christian Book Distributor

Barnes and; Noble

Books-A-Million

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS – 2012

2012-01-01T09:23:00.000-06:00

It’s hard to believe another new year has rolled around. The last half of 2011 blew through like a whirlwind with release of my debut novel, Peril: Fast Track Thriller #1. Once the hectic days of my blog tour passed by, I finally took some time to evaluate what I need to do in 2012.

My list of must do’s:

· Get Write This Way, my book on the craft of writing, in both paperback and e-book formats

· Write and revise Conspiracy, the sequel to Peril

· Begin writing Revenge, the third book in the Fast Track Thriller series

· Market Peril, then Conspiracy when it comes out in the summer

· Continue blogging

· Continue networking

Of course there are many sub-lists that fit under each of those to-do’s, but thinking of those, much less listing them, is mind-boggling. I do, however want to highlight a few items and will even go so far as to label them “resolutions.”

2012 RESOLUTIONS

· Finish writing Conspiracy: Fast Track Thriller #2

· Begin writing Revenge: Fast Track Thriller #3

· Publish Write This Way with Create Space

· Re-post popular series of articles on my blog

· Begin a series of blog articles about marketing a book

· Do at least a tiny bit of marketing every day

Even these six items make my brain hurt if I think about them too long. I am praying about whether I need to set a schedule and rigidly stick to it. Schedules have not worked for me in the past. I have a tendency to become a slave to them, so God regularly reminds me that He knows what I need to do and I should seek His guidance each and every day for a to-do list. I can’t see how I can accomplish so much without a schedule, but God knows my needs better than I do. Either way, I need to cling to Him to provide the strength, motivation, and creativity to get it all done.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY IN THE NEW YEAR!

Suzanne Hartmann

http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com

AUTHOR OF PERIL: FAST TRACK THRILLER #1

FREEBIE FRIDAY

2011-12-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS!

The books listed below with a "CB" in front of the titles are available at Amazon AND ChristianBook.com (non-Kindle version). All others are available from Amazon only.

To access the books at ChristianBooks.com, click here: CB BOOKS. You will have to download Adobe Digital Editions before you can download books, then you can transfer them to your e-reader.

**NOTE** Because free offers change frequently, make sure the book is still free before purchasing.

New This Week:FICTION
CB - Blame it on the Mistletoe (not free on Amazon)
Crispens Point - A Christian novel by JoHannah Reardon
Halfway Dreaming: A by Faith Not by Sight Urban Romance Novel by Felicia Johnson
It's Alexandra by A. E. Praytor
CB - Medical Error by Richard Mabry
My True Essence (Christian Fiction) by Shawneda Marks
CB - The Pawn (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 1) by Steven James
Praise Jerusalem! by Augusta Trobaugh
CB - One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
Ordained Irreverence by McMillian Moody
CB - Ruby (Dakotah Treasures #1) by Lauraine Snelling
CB - A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman
The Thief by Clifton Voshen
CB - To Love Anew (Sydney Cove Series #1) by Bonnie Leon

NON-FICTION
No new books this week

Still Free:
FICTIONCB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
CB - Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
CB - Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
A Day and a Half in Christmas by Colin Cohen
CB - Faith (Brides of the West #1) (HeartQuest) by Lori Copeland
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
CB - Gods and Kings: Chronicls of the Kings #1 by Lynn Austin (not free on Amazon)
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
CB - A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
CB - Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
Laser and Sword: Winter 2008 Edition (Laser and Sword Magazine) by Adam Graham and Andrea Graham
CB - Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 1) by Karen Hancock
Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
Man of God by Debra Diaz
Nephilim Genesis of Evil by Renee Pawlish
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
CB - Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) by Robin Parrish
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
Sheltering Hearts by Robyn Car
CB - Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith
The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
Through The Storm (Rain Series - Book 5) by Vanessa Miller
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

NON-FICTION
CB - 7-Day Doubt Diet, The by Renee Swope
CB - Game Plan for Life by Joe Gibbs, Tony Dungy and Jerry B. Jenkins
CB - God Unwrapped (not free on Amazon)
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B and H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James
What's So Great About Salvation? by James Somers
Happy reading!

http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/
Suzanne Hartmann
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES INCLUDED IN PERIL

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-06:00

There’s a saying about writing that says, “Write what you know.” Since PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1 is my first novel, and it’s easier to show something you’ve actually experienced than to make it up or do the research to recreate it, I found myself coming back to this adage many times.

Below are items in PERIL that came from my own experiences. The actual text from PERIL is in quotes.

1) Joanne experienced a severe accident years before this story takes place. Because I was also in a severe accident many years ago, I included in Joanne’s story some specifics from my own accident.

a) “Her screams had been so long and hard that her throat had become raw. By the time the paramedics arrived, sound no longer came out. “

(Before the ambulance arrived at the scene of my accident, I was in so much pain from my many injuries that I screamed and screamed until my throat was so raw that no more sound came out.)

b) “I found out later that Aunt Jean called my mom right after the hospital notified my parents about the accident. Aunt Jean said she’d sensed a great need to pray for her sister’s family right around the time I was in the ER.”

(This is exactly what happened on the night of my accident, except my aunt’s name is LaVerne.)

c) “It’s considered a ‘dirty wound.’ It needs to heal from the inside out to keep from becoming infected.”

(The wound from one of the many surgeries after my accident was considered a dirty wound. The doctor didn’t stitch it up or staple it. It was covered, and nurses washed it out several times a day with hydrogen peroxide, but they left it open so it would heal from the inside out.)

2) When I needed a minor character to suffer from a serious illness, I decided to give him the same illness my dad suffered through. That way I could add first-hand experience into the story to make it more realistic (and save me a lot of time researching).

a) “An unnatural stillness blanketed the room as Joanne took a seat next to Neil. Padded chairs lined walls hung with large pictures, and a selection of magazines littered several end tables. But the subtle differences thickened her throat. Everyone sat in pairs: the patients next to the loved ones who were suffering from—maybe dying from—their illness. Those who spoke did so in the hushed tones used at a funeral home.”

(This is the feeling I had when I accompanied my parents to any of dad’s doctor appointments.)

b) “It gave her the creeps to sit near people who had poison dripping into their veins, even if it was a type of poison created to harm the cancerous cells more than the noncancerous ones.”

(This is exactly the thought I had when I sat next to my dad during a couple of his chemo treatments.)

3) For four years, I volunteered with Midwest Raceway Ministries at Gateway International Speedway just outside of St. Louis for the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series races. The following activities are things I saw crew members do at the track at one race or another.

a) “As they walked down pit road, Joanne pointed toward two crew members in bright yellow firesuits tossing a football back and forth while the rest of their crew lined up next to their car.”

b) “In the blue and yellow car behind it, a tall crew member had one leg in the car and one leg out as he helped push his team’s car forward.”

4) As I wrote PERIL, a few miscellaneous opportunities came up to include various occurrences from my own experience.

a) Because I have homeschooled my children since they were in kindergarten, I am familiar with that lifestyle and the typical behavior of homeschooled children, so I made Joanne, one of the main characters, a homeschool mom.

b) “Pain crowded her consciousness, but she pushed aside the black dots that swarmed at the edges of her vision.”

(I have passed out due to pain several times. Each time, black dots of varying sizes started at the edge of my vision. They grew and multiplied until I could see nothing, then I passed out. One time I was able to hold the process off briefly until I reached my room and could collapse on my bed.)

c) “Stuart began to tell her about his only experience on an Air Force base—an air show his father took him to when he was young—”

(In spite of having lived only a half hour from Scott Air Force Base all , I’ve only been there once. When I was in college, I went with a friend for the annual air show.)

d) “I’ll even make my special half-white/half-wheat pancakes for breakfast in the morning.”

(At one point, my family decided that we should grind our own wheat and use it to make bread in our bread machine. My husband also created his own special recipe for pancakes made of half white flour and half wheat flour. They were delicious!)

e) “It felt like the time he’d taken a bite of what he thought was pistachio pudding, only to discover it was lime instead.”

(Something similar to this happened when my mom gave me a new mixture of some type of jello salad to try, but I thought she was handing me ice cream. When the actual flavor registered and conflicted with what I thought I was getting, my brain was so mixed up that the first bite tasted like soap!)

Until I started writing, I never really thought about whether authors included their own experiences in their writing. I just assumed that since it was a work of fiction, everything in it was fictitious. Now I know how much flavor and reality personal experience can add to a story. So as I read a novel, I wonder sometimes—especially when I read a particularly poignant part—if that could possibly be something the author experienced.

Here’s an introduction to PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, a Christian suspense novel:

A top-secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

“Plenty of action and unexpected twists.”

Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

For more more articles about PERIL and its sequels, visit my website:

FAST TRACK THRILLERS

FREEBIE FRIDAY

2011-12-23T12:05:00.001-06:00

Give yourself a gift for Christmas--
FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKS!
The books listed below with a "CB" in front of the titles are available at Amazon AND ChristianBook.com (non-Kindle version). All others are available from Amazon only.

To access the books at ChristianBooks.com, click here: CB BOOKS.
You will have to download Adobe Digital Editions before you can download books, then you can transfer them to your e-reader.

**NOTE** Because free offers change frequently, make sure the book is still free before purchasing.

New This Week:
FICTION
CB - 11:15: The Making of a Halfling (FREE ebook) by Zondervan
ARCHANGEL by Michael Vorhis
A Day and a Half in Christmas by Colin Cohen
CB - Faith (Brides of the West #1) (HeartQuest) by Lori Copeland
CB - Code Blue by Richard Mabry
Laser and Sword: Winter 2008 Edition (Laser and Sword Magazine) by Adam Graham and Andrea Graham
Nephilim Genesis of Evil by Renee Pawlish
CB - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin
CB - A Texan's Promise (Heart of a Hero) by Shelley Gray
Through The Storm (Rain Series - Book 5) by Vanessa Miller
The Year She Fell by Alicia Rasley

NON-FICTION
CB - Dwelling in His Presence / 30 Days of Intimacy with God: A Devotional for Today's Woman by Cynthia Heald
CB - God Unwrapped (not free on Amazon)
CB - Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey Devotional by Gerald Bridges and Jerry Bridges

Still Free:
FICTION
Alpha Rising by G.L. Douglas
CB - Child of the Mist (These Highland Hills, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
CB - Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek, Book 1) by Kathleen Morgan
Glimmers of Heaven by Connie Keenan
CB - Gods and Kings: Chronicls of the Kings #1 by Lynn Austin (not free on Amazon)
Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
CB - A Hearth in Candlewood (The Candlewood Trilogy, Book 1) by Delia Parr
Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) by Janice Thompson
Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart
CB - Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
CB - Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King, Book 1) by Karen Hancock
Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Series #1) by Nicole Young
Man of God by Debra Diaz
CB - Priced to Move (Shop-Til-U-Drop, Book 1) by Ginny Aiken
Providence by Karen Noland
CB - Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) by Robin Parrish
Shatter (The Children of Man, #1) by Elizabeth C. Mock
Sheltering Hearts by Robyn Car
CB - Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) by Virginia Smith
The Thorn (The Chronicles of Gan) by Daron Fraley
A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight
When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

NON-FICTION
CB - 7-Day Doubt Diet, The by Renee Swope
The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles
The Holy Bible: HCSB Digital Text Edition by B&H Publishing Group
CB - Knowing the Truth about Jesus the Messiah by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (not free on Amazon)
CB - Life to the Max by Max Lucado (not available on Amazon)
Nave's study Bible : King James version with concordance by Orville J. Nave and King James
CB - Game Plan for Life by Joe Gibbs, Tony Dungy and Jerry B. Jenkins
CB - The Greatest Gift (not free on Amazon)
`What's So Great About Salvation? by James Somers

Happy reading!

Suzanne Hartmann - 2011http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/
Author of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

HOW PERIL GOT ITS TWIST OF NASCAR

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

Writers get their ideas many ways. In the case of my first novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, boredom motivated me to create stories to entertain myself while I sat through my kids' violin and piano lessons and baseball and soccer practice. Over a couple of years, what started with a simple question— "What if I could..."—eventually became a set of detailed stories revolving around one main character: the mysterious Lady Anne.

The idea for a twist of NASCAR came after my daughter decided she liked watching stock car races and one day announced that she had chosen a favorite driver. I knew nothing about NASCAR at that point, so I had no idea if this driver was someone we should encourage her to root for. I decided I’d better educate myself and started paying more attention when my husband watched a race (instead of taking a nap).

After a few months of watching the races and pestering my husband with questions. I realized that stock car racing was more interesting than I thought. Eventually, I couldn't resist placing some of the stories I had created at a racetrack. And that naturally led to the addition of a main character who was a NASCAR driver.

At the time I did all of this, I never intended to write a novel. I just had fun thinking about my stories, tweaking them, and adding to them. It wasn’t until I was thinking about one of the stories while taking a walk in our neighborhood one day that a thought popped into my head, “Why don’t you make these stories into a novel?” I fought the idea for a week or so, thinking maybe I was having a premature mid-life crisis or something, but after much prayer, I realized God was nudging me. So in spite of the fact that I had very little experience writing fiction, I set out to weave my stories into a novel.

Although I didn’t do it intentionally, the twist of NASCAR made my novel unique. Not many books incorporate NASCAR into their stories, and most of those that do are romances, not suspense novels. So the blend of NASCAR excitement with the thrills and mystery of the suspense genre that originated with my daughter’s interest in stock car racing shaped my novel into something special. I may not have known what I was doing, but God knew exactly where He was leading me, and it’s something I give Him thanks for daily.

Here’s a little about the book God led me to write. It is my debut novel and published by OakTara.

PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller:

A top-secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

A top secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments, from the White House to NASCAR tracks, while escorting the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity. When unwanted publicity and the attention of a NASCAR champion threatens to expose her secrets, she becomes a terrorist target with danger surrounding her on all sides.

“Plenty of action and unexpected twists.”

Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

For more articles about PERIL and its sequels, visit my website:

FAST TRACK THRILLERS

You can find PERIL at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

(Available at the above for 43%off!)

Christian Book Distributor