Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling

Another great summer read! I really enjoyed the quick pace and unexpected twists! RECOMMENDED! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of your very own! Woo-hoo.

A.J. is also hosting a fab contest...you can win a $40 dinner gift certificate! Yum. Click over to the blog tour post and in the comments leave your answer to this question:

What's the Most Important Thing You've Ever Lost and Then Found?

A.J. Kiesling will select the winning response based on originality and sizzle!

Now onto the book...go here to see what others are saying.

About Skizzer:
"There are things only a sister should know - sister secrets," said Becca.

And with that word the two sisters buried a little gold box that would perhaps link them to this secret in their past. But years later will that gold box help bring the missing younger sister back?
In her first suspense novel, A.J. Kiesling, a former journalist with a knack for uncovering the latest beat, leads readers on a journey across the Atlantic with Claire Trowling, the older sister, to discover how far a bond between sisters will go in Skizzer.

This starts Claire on a quest. After receiving news of her sister Becca's sudden disappearance, Claire must piece together the shadowy remnants of a past she's long forgotten in order to find her. A cryptic note scrawled in Becca's handwriting leaves more questions than it answers: "Something both terrible and wonderful has happened. I can't explain now..."

When a stack of mysterious letters bound by a rare necklace is found, Claire heads to England-the source of the heirloom-for answers. With the help of a rectory gardener she remembers from her childhood, Claire races to discover the secrets that hold her family captive. Full of suspense and intrigue, Skizzer takes readers on a transcontinental hunt for answers weaving seamlessly between the distant past of childhood and the urgency of the present.

Buy the book here!



About A.J.: A.J. (Angie) Kiesling grew up loving trees and words--trees because they formed the natural backdrop and playground for her childhood years in rural North Carolina, and words because they captivated her from as far back as she can remember. When she wasn't romping through the woods with her siblings, she might be found with her nose in a book--or lost among the shelves at the local library. She has worked in the Christian publishing industry since 1985 as an author and editor. A former religion writer for Publishers Weekly and Religion BookLine e-newsletter, she frequently reported on spirituality trends and religion book publishing. Angie is the author of numerous books, including Skizzer (a novel, Revell), Where Have All the Good Men Gone? (Harvest House), Jaded: Hope for Believers Who Have Given Up on Church but Not on God (Revell), and Soul Deep: Prayers and Promises for Cultivating Inner Beauty (Barbour). She also ghostwrote Live Like a Jesus Freak (Albury), the popular follow-up to D.C. Talk's bestseller Jesus Freaks.Beginning her career as a staff editor for Charisma magazine, she went on to cover industry news and book trends for the award-winning trade periodical Christian Retailing, followed by an editorial position on the startup website iBelieve.com.

Over the years she has worked as an independent book editor and writer for some of the leading names in book publishing: Baker Publishing Group, Jossey-Bass, Thomas Nelson, Honor Books, Harvest House, Creation House, Barbour Publishing, and Xulon Press, among others. Today she heads up the editorial department at Xulon Press, a print-on-demand publisher based in Orlando.

To learn more about A.J. Kiesling and her other books, check out her website: http://www.ajkiesling.com/

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Bubba's Buttery Biscuits!

Step right up and get them while they're HOT!

As part of Rachel Hauck's blog tour for Sweet Caroline (the story takes place at the Frogmore Cafe) she's included the recipe for Bubba's Buttery Biscuits from the book! Fun. Oh, and I loved the book! Make sure you add it to your summer reading list...if you can only read one--make it this one! You won't be disappointed.

I loves me a good biscuit!

3 cups self-rising flour
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for brushing the tops
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place the flour and chilled butter in a medium mixing bowl. Work the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingertips until the butter pieces are a little larger than an English pea, but not larger than a lima bean. If you are using your fingers, work quickly so that the heat of your hands won't melt the butter.

Pour in all of the buttermilk and, using light pressure, fold the mixture a few times with a plastic spatula until it holds together. Do not over mix. In order to make light biscuits, it is important to work the dough as little as possible.

Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead it quickly and gently 6 to 10 times or until it begins to be almost homogenized. There will be large pieces of butter throughout. Sprinkle a little flour under the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won't stick to the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness.

Cut the dough into 2-inch rounds, place on an ungreased baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. I like the biscuits to be crispy and brown on the top and bottom, but not dry in the middle. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter. Serve right away. (recipe from Louis Osteen)

The biscuits ROCK...make some tonight! And...head on over to Rachel's site and sign up for her newsletter. You'll be entered to win this AWESOME scrumptious baking basket!

About the book: When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order...

Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.

Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.

But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

About Rachel: (Go here for a previous interview) I graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism. As a member of Phi Mu sorority, I partied my way though the last few years of college.

But, the truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me.

After graduation, hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. And I did it without a laptop, a cell phone, an IPod or portable DVD player. Those were hard times.

But, I traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine. But, life on the road is difficult. Working twelve to fourteen hour days, one doesn't get to see many of the sites. In Ireland, our company's distributor drove me around at night so I could see something of Dublin.

I met Tony, my husband, in '87, at church, of all places. We got married in '92. Tony has been a pastor for twenty years. I've worked with him in eighteen of those twenty. Our heart is to see teens and adults passionate, radical and whole hearted for Jesus.

Tony and I don't have any children of our own, lots of kids-in-the-Lord and we love them all. However, we do have a very spoiled dog, and an even more spoiled cat.

I've always wanted to be a writer. My dad used to tell me, "You're a writer." I have letters he wrote me post college, exhorting me to write. In this, I believe he had the heart of God.

In '93, I started an epic WW2 novel with two plots. It was well rejected. After that ordeal, I took a break and put efforts into my job as a software project manager. But, I missed writing and in late ' 99, I took up the craft again.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. I love writing chick lit and romance. I love writing. What an honor.

Rachel has several other books that have been received with great praise, including Diva Nash Vegas and Lost In Nash Vegas

Buy the book here

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Hollywood Screenwriter Takes On Real Life

"I thought my life was over."

Hollywood's Dirty Little Secret by Misty Taggart

I was living my dream. To be a Hollywood writer was everything I had wanted since I was a very young child. There was never a time in my life when I didn't know absolutely what I wanted to do. And there I was, a member of the WGA, a working Hollywood screenwriter. It was glorious. My life was so exciting! Each day was an adventure full of running to studios, pitching stories, writing and rewriting. Location shoots and lunching with Hollywood insiders.

I was so very fortunate to meet William Hanna of Hanna/Barbera fame. He told me he liked my "drive" ... my passion. It reminded him of his own. Bill quickly became my mentor and very good friend. He believed in me and my talent so much that it was this famous and very generous man who made it possible for me to be one of the first women to ever write for animation. Until then, it had been a closed boys club ... and yet, there I was writing dog dialogue for Scooby Doo in my own office at Hanna/Barbera Productions! How incredible it was to be sitting in the many recording sessions with all the big name voice-over talent.

I was so proud as I watched my talented husband, Joe, appearing on Days of Our Lives, General Hospital and Three's Company. Our friends were all in the business. We were surrounded by lights, cameras and action, all the things I had dreamed of and worked so hard to attain. It was an exciting time in my life. The strange thing was, I thought it would go on forever.

But under all the glamour and the fun, if you are in this industry very long you will find Hollywood's dirty little secret. What is that? Well ... Hollywood will not allow you to grow older! They simply won't allow it! They don't say it ... but it is made very clear. Opportunities to pitch stories stop coming your way. Meetings are difficult, if not impossible to get. It is heartbreaking and irreversible. You are on your way out! It is as though the "Hollywood Powers-That-Be" believe a human brain stops working, in any cognitive fashion, when you near the BIG 50! (A testimony to that thinking can be had by simply watching current TV.) I laugh when I think that just perhaps their skewed thinking has come back to bite them in the behind!

When it was clear that my life as a Hollywood Screenwriter was over, I was truly devastated. I felt my whole life finished. Depression and fears set in--stealing any joy I had left. Hollywood had done a good job on me. I bought all of the lies. And those lies almost killed me.

I was convinced my dream had been stolen. I was too old to ever have other dreams or to truly enjoy my life ever again. Going on living that way, wasn't an option.

But I was so very wrong! God simply had new dreams for me in this season of my life. But I didn't come to this discovery easily. It's taken time and the willingness to work with my own Life Coach. No, she didn't do it for me, but she listened to me ... gave me new ways to look at my life. Things I hadn't thought about in my devastated, crisis state. She asked the hard questions and I found answers. It was an amazing process.

Could it be that I was getting excited about life again? Together, my coach and I made a PLAN OF ACTION that fit me perfectly. I began slowly but surely to move toward a new dream. My life coach shared her knowledge, giving me many incredible and solid life tools to deal head on with my depression and feelings of worthlessness. My faith became stronger and I was empowered to see the possibilities God was offering to me. And, with her encouragement, I had the desire to reach out and grab them! Wasn't this what Bill Hanna had loved about me? My drive! My enthusiasm? I realized I was the only one who had given up on me. God had done His part, as always .. now it took action on my part.

Would I give up on the rest of my life, brokenhearted over the past? Or would I find new vistas to conquer? I had a choice to make and I chose LIFE! I chose TODAY and all of my tomorrows. I looked at my life and all of the many trials and victories. I longed to share that with other women. To let them know they could achieve their dreams. It all became so clear! I began the study necessary for me to become a Certified Christian Life Coach. With my faithful readers, like you, at Ordinary Woman/Extraordinary God, who had been with me for so long, I began my practice.

Now, I want YOU all to experience the POSSIBILITIES for your lives! Don't give up! The definition of life is CHANGE. Helping other women walk through transitions using what I had been through myself became my passion ... My life is once again filled with excitement and I get up each day with true joy. I look forward to the day.

God had not taken dreams away, but given me new ones. This is why I'm so passionate about Life Coaching. I've been where you are! Let's do this together.

Don't you want a Life Coach who has been in those stuck and dark places ... a coach who knows how it feels to be frozen in place by fear and hopelessness? Give it a 4-week try! You will be amazed at what you will accomplish.

For more about Misty's Life Coaching, go to here.

GRAND PRIZE DRAWING!

Misty is making this new 1-month Life Coaching experience available to you for free, if you are the grand prize winner of this blog tour drawing. Did I say free? I meant to say FREE! $75 value. Great opportunity. Don't miss out!

Leave your comment here to be entered in this great contest.

And for those of you who don't win, here's another freebie for you.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Amnesia Guy-iambold-(Part 5)

This is my kids in action. For the last few months they've been creating videos to use with youth group.

The theme is "Amnesia Guy." And Nathan (my youngest) plays someone who has amnesia. The others have to tell him who he is: You are Loved, You are Forgiven, You are Bold ... etc. This is the video they came up with for Your Are Bold. Leslie (my girl) is the star with Nathan. Cory (my oldest) wrote, directed, and produced it. Enjoy!

Cory is graduating today!

Today my son Cory is graduating from High School. He did it! And as a homeschooling mom ... I did it!

Congratulations Cory. We love you!!!

Joshua 1:9 ...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)

To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.If at first you don't succeed, do it like your mother told you. ~Author Unknown"Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving." ~Oliver Wendall Holmes

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." ~Judy Garland

"What we are, is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God." - Eleanor Powell

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. ~Albert Einstein

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

Psalm 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. (NKJV)

1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (NLT)

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. (NIV)

"Whatever you are, be a good one." ~Abraham Lincoln

Maria Chapman

I 'm sure most of you have heard the sad news about the death of Stephen Curtis Chapman's daughter.

For those of you wanting to know more, go to Stephen Curtis Chapman's website http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/.

There's also a page set up in memory of Maria where condolences can be postedL http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/.

Here's what the first post on that condolence page said:

Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago.

So very, very tragic. And yet, God is still sovereign.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

And the winners are...

Lots of winners this week. Fun!

The winners of a signed copy of A Whisper of Freedom are:

Tony DiChiro
Karen Wedge
Larenda Twigg
Candy
Rachel Wollmann

And the winners of the "Spanish Gold" and all three books in The Spanish Civil War series are:

Shari at Onward Christian Woman
http://onwardchristianwoman.blogspot.com/2008/05/meme-contest-for-chronicles-of-spanish.html

Amy at Laughing Through the Tears
http://laughingthroughthetears.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Tanja at Three Moody Cuties
http://threemoodycuties.blogspot.com/2008/05/meme-to-win-books.html

Congrats to all of you...and THANKS HEAPS for playing along!

Email my assistant your mailing address and we'll get your books and chocolates out to you!

When I write...

I have a photo on the window sill of my office. It's a photo sent to me by a reader. She's a young, farmer's wife who lives in Iowa. With her in the photo is her husband and young daughter. I often look at that photo when I write. I think, "What does Jessica want?" She wants to be swept away. After all, she's had a busy day on the farm, with the kids and her husband. She also wants to be encouraged. Times are tough and she wants to remember that God is there ... even in the big stuff. Even in the small stuff, too.

I write historical novels centered around World War II, and I know weaving in true stories within the fiction is important, but I also remember there are real people who will pick up the books and their true stories can be changed, for the better, with my words. This is my hope.



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Stop Lurking contest winners...

Oh friends of the Goyer blogs...alas, I have failed you! It's been weeks since I drew a name from among you faithful commenters...

You see this each week...
Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

But in vain you have waited...until today.

Wait no more...

Winners from the last few weeks are...

Carole who answered the YouYou meme on April 15th.

Ivan-Girl who left a comment on this April 22nd post.

Cassie who left a comment on this April 28th post.

Katie Hart who left a comment on this May 5th post.

Mark Geil who left a comment on my CCM page.

Congrats to all of you...and thank you for your patience!

Send your mailing addy to my assistant Amy (amy@triciagoyer.com) and which Tricia Goyer book you'd like to receive and we'll get those mailed ASAP. You've waited long enough. LOL

Day 3 & 4, Chicago Trip

Chicago, Day Three

I couldn't believe it. On Day Two I crashed at 9:30 p.m. Of course this means I woke up by 3:30 a.m on Day Three! After a nice quiet time with God I went back to sleep ... a little too hard. The wake up call woke me up for about .02 seconds. Then I fell back asleep. I woke up at 6:45 and realized I was meeting Lori Raschke, my friend from Moody for breakfast. I got ready FAST. We met at Panera Bread Co, and Lori showed me her wedding photos which were amazing, and I actually cried when I looked at them. She was such a beautiful bride! We chatted for a while and then I BEGGED Lori to drive me up to Moody in my rental car. Chicago drivers are crazy. I mean CRAZY!!! Lori gave in.

Lori was kind enough to go with me as I checked out of the Blake Hotel and then we drove up to the Moody Publishers Building. I was happily surprised to see Andy McGuire and Randall Payleitner there. We chatted for a few minutes and then Lori walked me over to the Moody WMBI building (across the street) where I was due to tape an hour-long show of Moody Mid-Day Connection. (Oh, I have to mention that my car radio was set to WMBI the whole time I was in Chicago. I love that station!)

When I got there I discovered the host of the show was actually in the Wheaton office, so I still didn't get to see her face to face. Instead they set me up ALONE in a radio room. I had my headset, my mic, and all these fancy buttons. My favorite button was the "Cough" button. I actually used it, too, when I wanted to clear my throat! Still, even though the host wasn't present the interview went great. (Okay, I wasn't really alone because right across the hall through another window was the producer and audio guy ... who were both Gen Xers. And they were really nice, too!) You can listen yourself on June 16th at Moody Mid-Day Connection!

After I finished with the interview I went to the LifeWay Bookstore which was right around the corner. I bought three new CDs I've been wanting. (They were on sale!) I also bought some little gifts for the kids.

Next, the plan was to meet up with Kristen Anderson at 4:00 p.m. I still had a few hours before that. What to do? What to do? I found the nearest Starbucks, got some coffee, and worked on editing the novel I'm co-writing with Mike Yorkey. The title is The Swiss Courier and it's due in September. It's a great novel ... if I say so myself!

The minutes ticked by and I got a call from Kristen that she was in town. We met up and she joined me on a drive down to South Bend Indiana. Kristen is an amazing young women whose story I'm writing. We worked on the drive there ... but only after getting some yummy pizza at California Pizza Kitchen. (I've eaten at CPK twice in three weeks, once in San Diego and once in Chicago!)

Kristen recorded her part of the story for me as I drove. I'll use that tape later as I work on her chapters. And we only got lost ONCE finding the hotel. (Yes, that makes three for three for WRONG directions from MapQuest.) Thankfully, each time I got lost I had a friendly hotel employee who guided me in. Thank goodness for cell phones!

Kristen and I chatted, and then I conked out. She had A PAPER due for school and she was up to at least 3:00 a.m. (I woke up briefly and noted the clock.) I knew I was tired because the light and the clicking of her fingers on the keyboard didn't bother me one bit.

South Bend, Day Four

I woke up the next day and got ready as quietly as possible since Kristen was still sleeping. Then I caught the shuttle to the Harvest Show. I was a little early so I waited in the green room. Then, the makeup lady put some powder on my face ... no overhaul of makeup needed! The second guest, Melanie Wells, showed up and we were led to the back of the studio. We sat behind the scenes as the rest of the show--mostly news--was being taped and broadcasted LIVE.

Here I am in the Green Room at the Harvest Show.

Finally, it was my turn to go on. The hosts were fun to talk to and I had a great time talking about Generation NeXt Parenting. If you would like to see the show, you can go here: https://harvest-tv.com/video/dsp_playshow.cfm?showid=177

My segment is at: 23:20

After the show I headed back to the hotel, and Kristen and I headed out. We went to lunch at a fast-food Italian Restaurant. A first for me!!! We also finished editing the first two chapters of her book that I'm writing. Yeah! It felt good to accomplish that.

Then it came time to drive back to Chicago. Kristen and I chatted and the time flew. Way too soon I was dropping Kristen off. She to finish her paper, and me to take my rental car back and check into my hotel. (Easier said than done!) I was lucky enough to experience rush hour traffic in Chicago. It took me 1.25 hours to go 16 miles!!! After checking into my hotel, returning my rental car, catching a shuttle to the airport, and then a shuttle back to my hotel I am finally here and settling in. It's only 7:43, but I'm ready for bed. Tomorrow I'm flying home to see my family. I can't wait. What a week!

And don't forget about the fun meme for the A Whisper of Freedom blog tour! I love reading your answers. FUN!

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

I'll be announcing the contest winners on Thursday!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Day 2, Chicago Trip

I was just a few minutes late to the TLN building where I was to tape an interview with Aspiring Women. I need to remind myself that Chicago is not Montana. I cannot go two miles in two minutes here like I can back home.

I got to the building and was met by the amazing producer Pam. After waiting a few minutes in the green room, I was ushered in for makeup. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do my own makeup, so the makeup lady had to wipe mine off. Then she airbrushed my face, redid my eyes and put dramatic lipstick on my lips. I know that more makeup is needed for the bright lights, so I didn't mind. (It was THICK though.)

After that, I was ushered into a studio and was interviewed by Shirley Rose. I'd met Shirley before and she's wonderful. She immediately put me at ease. We mostly talked about my teen pregnancy, abortion, the beginning of Hope Pregnancy Center, etc. We talked a little about Generation Xers. And before I knew it the interview was over--which was a good thing since I was getting hot under those bright lights.

After that we taped some B-roll. I don't know what this stands for, but basically it's filler for when I'm talking during the TV spot. For the b-roll I walked along a wooded trail, looking contemplative. I sat on a log, fiddled with my wedding ring, stood by a pond, smiled as I stared into the sky, etc. Then, later when they produce the show, they will have those images while I'm telling my story. I felt like a star: "Look to the sky. Lift your face. Brush your hair behind your ear."

Also, I was taped in some guy's office as I worked on his desk. It was a huge, immaculate office and I had to laugh. That is NOT what my office looks like. Pam also went around the building and gathered up six women to be in my "post-abortion" Bible study group. I'd never met these women before, but they did a great job "acting" like we were bonded by what we shared.

The show will be produced sometime in the fall ... or maybe next spring. I'll let you know! Personally, I was amazed by what a complex shooting it was. But the people at TLN are wonderful!

After that I drove from Aurora to Chicago. I am sure that God helped me pick my hotel, because I only had to make three turns and I was there! I almost pulled out in front of someone once, and came close to clipping a guy who was crossing the street ... not bad for my first downtown Chicago driving experience!!!

After talking on my cell phone to a few Chicago friends, I met two other friends for dinner. Kendra and Ashley Smiley are amazing and we had fun talking books and ideas!!

Finally, around 9:00 p.m. I returned to my hotel and crashed. I couldn't believe how tired I was. It was a full, happy, busy day. I survived!



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

A Whisper of Freedom MEME! sticky post

Welcome to the blog tour and MEME for A Whisper of Freedom.

During the tour, you can enter to win one of FIVE signed copies of A Whisper of Freedom by signing up for Tricia's newsletter here!

Here's how the tour will work...along with a review and/or post about A Whisper of Freedom, the bloggers will also answer these questions and either tag specific people or tag their readers. See below for schedule of FABULOUSO bloggers.

Check out their blogs...and answer the MEME too!

Here are the MEME questions!

1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

5. List the last three things you've lost.

6. List the last three things you've found.


****Three brave "players" will be selected at random to win their own lost gold (Gourmet chocolate coins and all three books in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series). To enter all you have to do is answer the MEME on your blog and then leave a comment on Tricia’s blog tour post here http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2008/03/whisper-of-freedom-meme-sticky-post.html that you’ve posted your MEME. Easy.



May 12
Trish at Books for Moms
http://booksformoms.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Jennifer at So Many Books...So Little Time
http://somanybooksblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Angie at God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-by-tricia-goyer.html
Susan at His Reading List
http://hisreadinglist.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-contest.html

Tiffany at Amber Miller
http://www.ambermiller.com/2008/05/blog-tour-tricia-goyer-and-whisper-of.html

Brittanie at A Book Lover
http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour.html

Heather at Mumblings of a Mommy Monk
http://mommymonk.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-meme.html

Pattie at Fresh Brewed Writer
http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

May 13
Jenny at My Buckling Bookshelf
http://mybucklingbookshelf.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-tour-whisper-of-freedom-by-tricia.html

Stacey at Jamee Forever
http://jameeforever.blogspot.com/2008/03/you-wont-soon-forget-this-one.html

Erica at On the Write Path
http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-tricia-goyer-meme.html

Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee
http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/2008/03/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour-and-meme.html

Jennifer at Snapshot
http://jennifersnapshot.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Jamie at Surviving the Chaos
http://survivingthechaos.blogspot.com/2008/05/its-here-its-here.html


May 14
Tabitha at I Make It Up As I Go Along...
http://123pizza.org/blog/2008/05/14/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour/

Leticia at My Daily Trek
http://leticiasworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour-and-win.html

Beth at The Write Message
http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-meme-blog-tour.html

Melodee at Actual Unretouched Photo
http://www.unretouchedphoto.com/2008/05/14/book-tour-a-whisper-of-freedom/

Miralee at Coming Home
http://miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/2008/05/tricia-goyers-book-three-in-chronicles.html

Lena at A Christian Writer's World
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/2008/05/different-kind-of-blog-tour-with-author.html

Laura at Lighthouse Academy
http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/2008/05/tricia-goyer-whisper-of-freedom-review.html

Deborah at Books, Movies, Chinese Food
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-whisper-of-freedom-by.html


May 15
Christy at Christy's Book Blog
http://christysbookblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Lashaunda at Sormag Tours
http://sormagtours.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour.html

Lori at Laurel Wreath
http://laurelwreathsreflections.com/2008/05/15/tricia-goyers-a-whisper-of-freedom/

Tara at Piano Girl
http://pianogirl.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/whisper-of-freedom/

Vicky at Savvy Reviews
http://vickitalleymccollum.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-by-tricia-goyer.html

May 16
Gina at Writer Interrupted
http://ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/2008/05/15/whispers-of-freedom-meme/

Christy at Critty Joy
http://crittyjoy.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/a-whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour/

Camy at Camy's Loft
http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/2008/05/tricia-goyer-meme-contest.html

Melissa
http://forstrose.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour-meme.html

Rel at Relz Reviewz
http://relzreviewz.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-tour-for-whisper-of-freedom.html

Kathie at Taking a Stroll
http://takingastroll.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-blog-tour.html

Cara at Cara's Musings
http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-meme.html

Cee Cee at Book Splurge
http://booksplurge.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-tour-whispers-of-freedom-by-tricia.html

May 17
Crystal at Christian Book Scout
http://christianbookscout.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-chest-full-of-gold.html

Deena at Deena's Books
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/on-tour-with-tricia-goyer-and-whisper.html

Karen at Sky-High View
http://sky-highview.blogspot.com/2008/05/tricia-goyers-whisper-of-freedom-blog.html

Karla at Karla's Crazy Life
http://karlascrazylife.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-book-tour-and.html

Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
http://thenearsightedbookworm.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-by-tricia-goyer-and.html

May 18
Peg at Sips and Cups Cafeteria
http://peggyblannphifer.blogspot.com/2008/05/special-blog-tour-whisper-of-freedom.html

Audra at Penning Prose
http://www.audrasilva.com/blog/?p=63

Lynetta at Open Book
http://lynetta.blogspot.com/2008/05/treasure-chest.html

Revka at The Porch Light
http://ourfamilyporch.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-tour-whisper-of-freedom.html

Dee at Dee's Christian Fiction
http://christianfiction.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom-meme-sticky-tour.html

Lauren at Baseballs and Bows
http://baseballsandbows.blogspot.com/2008/05/whisper-of-freedom.html

Dena at Mother Inferior
http://denadyer.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/win-lost-gold-c.html

Martha at Our Family's Adventures
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Martha/534219/


About the book: Battles heat up…not only those being waged by the soldiers on both sides fighting for Spain, but in the hearts and minds of the men and women who must sacrifice more than their dreams to save the lives of their loved ones.

In this meticulously researched novel, brave and idealistic Sophie, Philip, Jose, and Deion realize their only hope for freedom is escaping Spain's borders.

By continuing the story of this band of volunteers during the Spanish Civil War, A Whisper of Freedom proves that there are whispers of hope and liberty that resonate through even the darkest night.

Links:
Book excerpt
Buy the book
Watch the series trailer

Day 1, Chicago Trip

4:00 a.m. wake up.
5:00 a.m. leave for airport.
5:10 a.m. arrive at airport.
6:00 a.m. fly to Seattle
8:00 a.m. fly to Chicago
2:30 p.m. arrive in Chicago.
2:31 p.m. the adventure begins

Okay, I'm a Montana girl, and at this moment I felt so "grown up." I got to Chicago, rented a car, drove the toll ways and made it to Aurora--road construction, stop and go traffic, and toll booths included! I only got lost once, and that's because Google maps led me to a residential area instead of my hotel. Thankful I had the hotel's number and I called for directions ... twice. Patty at the front desk is my new best friend.

After tossing my luggage in my room, I headed out to see Pete. Now Pete is one of my FAVORITE WWII vets. He is one of the first guys I met and he was one of the liberators of Mauthausen. A few years ago I help reunite Pete with a baby he saved during WWII (she's now a doctor in the states!), and so we have a special bond. He showed me all his photos and told me great stories. Guideposts Magazine is interested in his reunion story, so we talked about that for hours.

Pete "just happened" to live 8 miles from where I'm doing a TV interview tomorrow. Personally, I feel that God's hand was in it. There is no coincidences in God's kingdom.

Speaking of interview, I need my beauty sleep. Tomorrow the TV cameras roll. Pray for me!!! I'll mostly be talking about my teen pregnancy and what God has done.

Zip and Pep with Cranergy

Okay, I have to admit it, I like energy drinks. For a while I was a Sugar Free Red Bull type of girl. Then I discovered ZipFizz from Costco. I love coffee in the morning, but most afternoons--as I'm working on a book deadline--I usually need something to keep my mind focused and give me a pick-me-up.

I heard about Cranergy from MomCentral.com and decided to give it a try. Personally, I have to say that I wasn't too hopeful. It almost sounded too good to be true.

Cranergy
Do you need a little help to get through your busy day? We sure do, which is why we created Cranergy™, a delicious and naturally energizing juice drink. Cranergy™ is made from our refreshing cranberry juice, which we've enhanced with natural energizers like green tea extract and B vitamins. Made with Splenda® brand sweetener, Cranergy™ has only 35 calories per eight-ounce serving, 50 percent fewer calories than other leading energy drinks and traditional sodas. Cranergy™ is a "good for you" kind of energy that helps you get stuff done!

Today was the perfect day to try it. It's been a long day ... no make that a long week. Last night I was up late cleaning up after our silent auction. I've been up late all nights this week getting read for the auction. Oh, and did I mention I just got back to San Diego on Monday?

Today I got up at 4:00 a.m. to have quiet time before a busy day. I had a great time with God and then a devotional time with my husband. Then I showered just in time to talk with a producer for the Aspiring Women television show that I'm going to be on next week. After talking on the phone for 1 1/2 hours, I rushed out the door to play private tour guide for my friend Kathy Macias who is visiting with her husband Al. Fun! We drove from Glacier National Park to Big Mountain Ski Resort and all over the valley. I had about an hour to straighten the house and make dinner before Kathy and Al came to dinner. I quickly checked email and remembered my Cranergy. I was tired, and I had a lot to do. I needed help.

I like Cranberry juice, and it tasted good. I didn't get the "caffeine" feeling that I usually get from other energy drinks, but I did get more energy. In fact I did get the house cleaned, and dinner on the table, and enjoyed great (and awake) conversation with our visitors. In fact, I forgot I'd had the drink until after they left, mostly because I was wondering why I felt so good.

Yesterday while I was at Wal-Mart I noticed they had a big bottle of this stuff. I think I'm going to buy it, especially since it's cheaper than most of the stuff I've bought before. I'll probably still drink ZipFizz once in a while and maybe Red Bull, too, but I think I found a new favorite. Yum.

Sisters...Sisters

Last week I went to San Diego for five days. I went for my sister's birthday. I also met aunts, uncles, in-laws, out-laws and everyone in between. It was an amazing time, and I'm awed by God's gift of four sisters and this extended family! Oh, and if you don't know the whole amazing story of how I met my sisters, go here and then here!

And please pray! Tonight is our big event--The Heart of Czech Silet Auction and Fundraiser...a silent auction, speaker, sponsorship request. Please pray that lots of people show up, buy lots of auction stuff, and are interested in sponsoring us. Also, pray that our message will inspire people! My friend, Kathi Macias, donated her time to come to speak at our event! She arrived last night and is staying at our pastor's cabin. She'll be here until Saturday. The cool thing is that we have over $14,000 of stuff donated from our community for this event.

I'll fill you in on all the details soon!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Prayer request for Czech friend

Below is a prayer request from the people we will be working with in the Czech Republic. Please keep Zdenek, Gabi, and their family in prayer.
Thank you.

>
Hello, everybody!

Right now we have a prayer request for my husband, Zdenek Spilko (leader of our English camp, the second pastor of our church), who is in hospital unexpectedly and all of the sudden. His doctor told him yesterday that he had diabetes - and we would never think this might occur. He only had slight problems, nothing serious, he was generally healthy.

He has to be in hospital for at least one week, they take his blood count four times a day and the doctors will tell him the exact diagnosis in a few days. The values of sugar in his blood change a few times a day.

We all pray for him, and would be grateful for every prayer too. We are sure that God has everything in His hands, He is the one who cures, who cares, who helps.

In Christian love,
Gabi Spilkova and family
>

And if you love mystery and suspense novels...scoot on over to My Writing Mentor where I posted about Mark Andrew Olson's, The Warriors.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Sisters of the Heart!

You've heard me talk about my good friend Lisa Bergren many times. She is an amazing woman with many irons in the fire. She has co-written a Bible study with Rebecca Price, What Women Want: The Life You Crave and How God Satisfies.

Well, my friends, I have to tell you...It rocks!

This is a "must have" for any woman embarking on the journey to discover what God has given her to do in this life. Lisa and Rebecca have brought us a study aimed at weeding out all that is unnecessary and chokes...so that God can bring life to the desires HE has for us and our lives.

OH, and what a fun contest they're having...

Send an email to amy@litfusegroup.com telling Lisa and Rebecca WHO your best friend is and WHY she's your "Sister of the Heart". They'll post your story on their blog and choose one winner and her best friend to receive a copy of What Women Want and one of their musical accompaniments (Ambient or Mellow Vocals)! Fun.

And if you head on over to their blog tour post and leave a comment you could win a $15 Starbucks card.

Be sure to check out their website http://www.satisfiedheart.com/. Lisa and Rebecca have included some fabulous resources and have also put together some music to accompany your study. Fun.

The official blurb: From a deeper relationship with God to harmony in the home, from stronger marriages to more satisfying work: Women Want More.

In What Women Want, bestselling author Lisa T. Bergren and Rebecca Price invite readers to thoughtfully consider their soul-deep longings—and pursue God’s best in every area of life. Using in-depth interviews from a national survey and hundreds of personal interviews, biblical narratives, their own personal stories and inspiring quotes, the authors point fellow seekers toward the kind of wholeness God desires, providing lots of fun and inspiration along the way. They explore friendship, how and where to find happiness, health, and more with an eye on physical, emotional, and spiritual matters.

A Bible study, designed for personal or group use and tested with dozens of women’s ministries around the country before publication, is included at the end of each chapter.

Young or old, married or single, with children or without, striving in the workplace or working in the home, readers will resonate with Lisa and Rebecca’s descriptions of the life women crave, and learn how God fulfills the very desires He stirs.

What women want is no secret. But discovering the God who satisfies might just be the adventure of a lifetime.

About the authors:
LISA T. BERGREN is the author of twenty-eight books that have sold many more than she ever believed. She writes a lot from the heart and in whatever category that currently interests her–from gift and children’s books to medieval fiction and Bible studies. She is a wife to Tim, an artist, and mother to three phenomenal children–Olivia, Emma and Jack. The Bergrens live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and worship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Monument. For more specifics on Lisa, see her Web site at http://www.lisatawnbergren.com/. You can listen to a great interview with Lisa and Jill from CWAHM here

REBECCA PRICE credits her long career (”Twenty-five years–yikes!) in the Christian publishing industry as providing opportunities to meet and learn from many gifted teachers and authors. She has worked in marketing and executive positions at NavPress, Word, Multnomah and WaterBrook Press. After moving around the country (and to London and back), she returned to her home state, embarked on a business venture with Lisa, and is now VP of publishing for FamilyLife. Rebecca lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is actively involved at Fellowship Bible Church.

CLICK HERE TO READ SOME EXCERPTS:
A Letter from the Authors

Take Your Own 5 Minute Survey

Chapter One: You, Fabulous You

Chapter One Bible Study

Buy the book here!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Controlling Interest

CONTROLLING INTEREST
by Elizabeth White

THERE'S TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY...
Matt Hogan's Memphis detective agency has been on the skids since a recent attack of conscience cost him an important case. When a wealthy investor steps in and saves River City Investigations, Matt thinks all his prayers have been answered-until he finds out that with the investor comes a new partner.

Fresh out of criminal justice school and a two-year stint in the Tunica County Sheriff's Department, Natalie Tubberville is out to prove she can cut it in the world of private investigations. But her reluctant partner is just as determined to have nothing to do with her--until Natalie makes him an offer he can't refuse! If Matt solves the next case before she does, she will return her share of the company.

And the race is on. As two strong personalities compete, mutual attraction grows…while a simple case of a runaway bride threatens to become an international incident. Will Matt and Natalie call off the competition-or discover an entirely new arrangement?


Meet Elizabeth:

What's the craziest thing you've ever done in the name of research?
You mean besides get married?? JUST KIDDING! Once when I was working on "The Trouble With Tommy," I went on a coon hunt with my uncle and my son. I did not carry a gun--but my son did. He was about fourteen at the time and had never been hunting before. You coon hunt at night, so we all wore these helmet like hardhats with headlights on the front. We put the dogs in their carrier on the back of the four-wheeler and they're barking their heads off as we drive through the woods. Finally we stop and let the dogs out and follow them, listening for the change in their baying. When a dog trees a raccoon it's very distinct. Even an ignoramus like me can hear it. So my son was so excited he could hardly hold onto the bullets as he loaded them in the gun. I won't go into the details, but it was hilarious and gross and totally a South Mississippi experience.

Who's your favorite author?
I have lots of favorites, but I've always loved Max Brand. His real name was Frederick Faust--and he wrote totally campy westerns back in the 1920's and 30's. In fact he created Destry of Destry Rides Again and Dr. Kildare! His heroes were daring and funny, and he's the only male writer I know who could consistently do a decent romance. You gotta check him out!

I hear you're in grad school at the moment. What gives?
I had this idea that I wanted to teach college writing instead of middle school language arts. And I loathe education courses, so the only option was an English/Creative Writing program. It's actually been a lot of fun. I'm taking a poetry writing workshop this semester, which I totally suck at, but it scratches a creative itch I didn't even know I had. I should graduate with my masters at the end of the summer--I have one more course, screenwriting, to take. Spielberg look out!

What grabbed your interest to write this book?
Well, I wanted to write a sequel to OFF THE RECORD, using private detective Matt Hogan as my new hero. Which brought to mind one of my favorite TV shows from the 80's, Moonlighting. So my son and my husband and I did a little brainstorming about Matt's agency being invaded by a rich rookie "girl" detective--and Natalie Tubberville was born. Matt and Natalie needed a case to solve, so we came up with this runaway Pakistani bride scenario. It just got crazier from there. I think this story is a lot of fun.

What was the most fun experience you've ever had as a writer?
Writing is not fun. I'm serious! Researching is fun. Answering fan letters is fun. Writing answers to blog interviews is even fun. Walking through a bookstore and seeing my name on a shelf is fun. Writing is, like someone said, "like shoving a refrigerator uphill." Well, okay, if you insist. I adore writing the scene at the end where the hero and heroine get together. I just melt into a puddle every time. We old married people know that the real work begins there, but gosh, don't you just love that hopeful spot of pure joy?

If an aspiring author were sitting across from you at your kitchen table, what piece of writing advice would you give them?
Anything that's worth having is hard to get.

Please visit Beth on the web at http://www.elizabethwhite.net/ or http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509505831

To buy CONTROLLING INTEREST go here



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Super Cool note from South Africa!!!

I received this from one of my reader's in South Africa!

Hi Tricia

Thought you'd like to hear this little story. A few weeks ago I saw a copy of Generation NeXt Marriage shelved amongst the fiction books at our local Bible Shop. I hate seeing books in the wrong place, so took it to a shop assistant and asked her to put it in the right place.

A couple of days ago I was in the same shop, and there was Generation NeXt Marriage back amongst the fiction! I took it to a shop assistant (not the same one) and told her it was not fiction, but non fiction about marriage. She took it to the relevant section of the shop and minutes later came to me beaming. A lady was standing at the marriage section looking for your book, but she didn't know what it was called so she was thrilled to see the assistant bringing exactly what she was looking for!

Just a note on your books here in South Africa- I saw 2 more copies of Generation NeXt Marriage , Night Song (1), Arms of Deliverance (1), Valley of Betrayal (2), Shadow of Treason (1), and Whisper of Freedom (2)

With best wishes

Ruth


That is just truly amazing to me!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends.

Czech Video and Praying for Prague guide

An on-line writer friend of mine is active in ministry in the Czech Republic. He sent me a prayer guide for Prague. If you're interested, email my assistant (amy@triciagoyer.com) and she'll send it to you.

Will you join me in committin