LitFUSE Blog Tour: Nothing But Trouble

Nothing But Trouble

by

Susan May Warren

About the book: PJ Sugar knows three things for sure:

After traveling the country for ten years hoping to shake free from the trail of disaster that’s become her life, she needs a fresh start.

The last person she wants to see when she heads home for her sister’s wedding is Boone—her former flame and the reason she left town.

Her best friend’s husband absolutely did not commit the first murder Kellogg , Minnesota , has seen in more than a decade.

What PJ doesn’t know is that when she starts digging for evidence, she’ll uncover much more than she bargained for—a deadly conspiracy, a knack for investigation, and maybe, just maybe, that fresh start she’s been longing for.

It's not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her hometown, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend's husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder--who also happens to be PJ's former flame--is convinced it's an open-and-shut case, PJ's not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend's husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

Read the first chapter: http://gotsugar.susanmaywarren.com/

About Susan: Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia , was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia , Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota .

A note from Susan May Warren

Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes?

Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for the best, is always discovering that she is just a little different than everyone else. PJ is us.

And that’s good news. Because God loves PJ. He loves her messiness, and her impulsiveness, her heart bent toward others, the hope that fuels her actions. And He has a plan for PJ – one that includes her weaknesses as well as her strengths.

Yep, I need to hear that – need to hear that I don’t have to be perfect for God to love me, use me, sing over me. Need to hear that although I don’t fit in, well, I’m not supposed to…in fact, I’m supposed to be a little…alien.

I wrote PJ for everyone who feels just a little messy, just a little like they can’t quite get it right. And who needs to hear that God loves them. Period. Full stop. Hallelujah.

What is your favourite Bible verse and what does it mean to you?

My current favourite is: Hebrew 4:16, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” It means that even when I come crawling, my face to the floor, He won’t reject me. I pull it out whenever I blow it, or feel inadequate, or when someone hurts me, or...when I hurt someone else. Basically whenever I feel like I’m Trouble, I remember that God won’t turn away. In fact, He may even do what I do to my children – turn me to face Him, despite my puffy red face, wipe off my tears and pull me into His arms.

How did I come to be a writer?

I’ve always been amazed at the journey God has taken me on. I always loved to write, but being a missionary in Russia , I never dreamed about being an author. I just tried to do the best with what God had entrusted to me, and for me that meant writing missionary newsletters. I honed my skills through my newsletter, and then, after a number of years, began to write devotionals and magazine articles. Although I tried my hand at writing novels (I wrote 4 before I ever had one published), I never thought I would get anything published. But I diligently studied craft and analyzed books, even though I was hidden away in Siberia . I’ll always be grateful that Tyndale took a chance on me! I’m still learning, and still trying to be a good steward of the gift and task I’ve been given to write books that draw people closer to God.

Where did the idea for PJ Sugar come from?

Every author dreams of a moment where someone says something, or they see something on the news, or in a newspaper and it springs out at them, nearly shouting – STORY IDEA! This happened to me a number of years ago while talking to friends about their daycare situation, and how one of the parents ended up being a murder suspect! Scary! But an interesting idea. About that time, I was a mom who wore many hats – homeschooling mom, writing teacher, speaker, children’s church leader, -- and it occurred to me that a mother really has to be a sort of PI. Not only taking on different roles, but sleuthing out daily household mysteries like, who ate the last of the peanut butter (and put it back in the cupboard?) and whose socks are laying in the middle of the floor, and finally…(in our house), who let the dog (and her muddy feet!) in the house! PJ is the alter-ego in every mom, that super-hero inside of us that allows us to have esp (I know you’re not really done with your homework!), or have “eyes in the back of our head,” (stop poking your sister!) or even figure out how to whip together an award-winning science project the night before the fair. PJ just applies all those skills to bad guys and figuring out the truth.

PJ Sugar is also a woman who wants to be all things to all people. She wants to be her nephew’s champion and her sister’s best friend, and her mother’s favorite daughter, and Boone’s special girl, and the hero of her hometown. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Maybe…because God wants her to be His girl, and satisfied in who He made her to be. And that is a journey for all of us PJ Sugars.

CFBA Blog Tour: Jillian Dare

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Jillian Dare: A Novel
Revell (May 1, 2009)
by
Melanie M. Jeschke


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Morey Jeschke (pronounced jes-key), a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an Honors degree in English Literature and a minor in European and English History.

A free-lance travel writer, Melanie contributed the Oxford chapter to the Rick Steves’ England 2006 guidebook. She is a member of the Capital Christian Writers and Christian Fiction Writers as well as three book clubs, and taught high-school English before home-schooling most of her nine children. Melanie lectures on Lewis and Tolkien, Oxford, and writing, and gives inspirational talks to all manner of groups, including university classes, women’s clubs, young professionals, teens, and school children.

A fourth generation pastor’s wife (her father Dr. Earl Morey is a retired Presbyterian minister), Melanie resides in the Greater Washington, D.C. area with her children and husband Bill Jeschke, a soccer coach and the Senior Pastor of The King’s Chapel, an non-denominational Christian church in Fairfax, Virginia.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Jillian Dare leaves her Shenandoah Valley foster home behind and strikes out on her own as a nanny at a large country estate in northern Virginia. She is delighted with the beauty of her new home, the affection of her young charge Cadence Remington, and the opportunity for frequent travel to the Remington castle in England.

She is less certain about her feelings for her handsome but moody employer, Ethan. In spite of herself, Jillian realizes she is falling for her boss. But how can a humble girl ever hope to win a wealthy man of the world? And what dark secrets from the past is he hiding? This contemporary story, inspired by the well-loved classic Jane Eyre, will capture readers' hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jillian Dare: A Novel, go HERE

CFBA Blog Tour: Deceptive Promises

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Deceptive Promises
Barbour Publishing, Inc (2008)
by
Amber Miller


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, live in Colorado and just had an incredibly beautiful daughter named Victoria.

I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

I got involved with web design in 1997, when I was asked to take over running the official web site for the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. That eventually led to a series of negotiations where I was offered the job of running world-renowned actress Jane Seymour's official fan site. That has branched into doing web sites for a variety of clients, including: authors J.M. Hochstetler, Trish Perry, Kathy Pride, Louise M. Gouge, Susan Page Davis, and Jill Elizabeth Nelson, actor William Shockley (the voice of AT&T and Toyota) and many others. With the help of a handful of other web site "technos," Eagle Designs was born! Feel free to visit and see our other clients.

Amber's very first book, Promises, Promises, released in February 2008. It's a historical fiction set in Delaware during the Colonial period and the Great Awakening. The other 2 books in the series are Quills And Promises (July 2008) and this one, Deceptive Promises (December 2008). In 2009, they will be repackaged for a state set entitled Liberty's Promise. She has also sold another series set in historical Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. The 3 books in that series will begin releasing in May 2009 and will be repackaged in 2010.


ABOUT THE BOOK

MARGRET WANTS TO BELIEVE SAMUEL'S PROMISES.

Is deception fair in wartime Margret Scott must deal with this question as she finds herself attracte to the enigmatic Samuel Lowe. As the tensions grow between the colonists and the British soldiers and loyalists, Margret cannot always tell where Samuel's loyalties lie.

---

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"If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity." -Job 31:5-6

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Samuel's duties have him working for both sides of this war, and he often finds himself torn between what is right and what is wrong. He promises Margret she can trust him, and Margret promises him she does. But can promises born in deception be trusted? Can a relationship built in uncertainty survive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceptive Promises, go HERE.

CFBA Blog Tour: Ulterior Motive

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ulterior Motive
Bethany House (March 1, 2009)
by
Mark Andrew Olsen


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MARK ANDREW OLSEN whose novel The Assignment was a Christy Award finalist, also collaborated on bestsellers Hadassah (now the major motion picture: One Night With the King), The Hadassah Covenant, and Rescued. Two of his last books were the supernatural thriller The Watchers, and The Warriors.

The son of missionaries to France, Mark is a Professional Writing graduate of Baylor University. He and his wife, Connie, live in Colorado Springs with their three children.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When an al-Qaeda email is intercepted, threatening an attack on America, it leads to the capture of the group's leader. Yet even under fierce interrogation, the terrorist clings to his jihadist beliefs and refuses to divulge any information. Desperate, the Army resorts to extreme measures--a controversial protocol designed to break a subject's resistance. But the attempt must be masked as an offer of clemency and rely on an outside party, someone who is unaware of the protocol's aims.

They find that someone in Greg Cahill, a disgraced soldier who now serves in a prison ministry. Lured by the chance to restore his reputation, Greg befriends a man the entire country despises. And the result proves combustible, the two men having to flee for their lives. With both in need of redemption, they set out to prevent a major catastrophe...

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ulterior Motive, go HERE

I haven't read this book yet, but my son did and said it was fantastic!

Genesis Contest Finalist!

On Thursday afternoon, around 12:30, the phone rang. Nap time had just started, so the house was quiet. I answered the phone with the usual "hello?" A man asked for me and gave me news that made my heart dance and eyes well with tears. That man was Jim Rupart, one of the coordinators for the Genesis writing contest, a writing contest for unpublished writers sponsored by ACFW. He called to say, "Congratulations, your entry finaled in the Genesis contest!"

I'm a gushy person when excited so, of course, I blubbered on the phone. We chatted for a few minutes, and then hung up. I called Hubby and shared the exciting news, and then called a couple of friends who understood my joy.

I entered two manuscripts in this contest. Ironically, the entry that finaled was the one I almost DIDN'T enter. I did not feel confident about it, but a friend persuaded me to enter it anyway to get the feedback to make it better. So I did. Now when I attend the ACFW conference in September, I will have a finalist ribbon to add to my name tag.

You know, I really don't care about winning. Yes, I'd be thrilled if I did, but having my entry make it to the top five is exciting enough.

I received my scoresheets that afternoon and had 48 hours to polish the manuscript before it would be sent to the final round judges. In my category, the final judges are two editors and one agent.

Finding time in those 48 hours was a challenge since I was out of town for most of them and dealt with a family emergency. I read the feedback I received, considered it, made changes, and submitted the revised entry five minutes before the deadline. I know. I know. Nothing like cutting it close.

My extreme gratitude goes to Camy Tang, her panel of coordinators, and the judges for their hard work. Without them, this contest would not be a success. I am eternally grateful for this opportunty. I praise God for opening another door on my writing journey.

I told my sister I was Snoopy Dancin' and she didn't know what I meant, so this is for her:

CFBA Blog Tour: Beloved Counterfeit

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Beloved Counterfeit
Barbour Publishing, Inc (May 2009)
by
Kathleen Y'Barbo


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





KATHLEEN MILLER Y’BARBO is a tenth-generation Texan and a mother of three grown sons and a teenage daughter. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and an award-winning novelist of Christian fiction whose first published work jumped onto the Christian Booksellers Association bestseller list in its first month of release. Kathleen is a former treasurer for the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a member of the Author’s Guild, Inspirational Writers Alive, Words for the Journey Christian Writers Guild, and the Fellowship of Christian Authors. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker, and her kids think she’s a pretty cool mom, too…most of the time, anyway.










ABOUT THE BOOK

LOVE CAN COVER A MUTITUDE OF SINS

Washed ashore on Fairweather Key, Ruby O’Shea and her three nieces─the offspring of the pirate Thomas Hawkins and Ruby’s late sister─have a chance for a new beginning as Ruby takes a job in a boardinghouse and the girls are passed off as her daughters. But will Ruby be able to confess all when she falls for Micah Tate, a widower, wrecher, and soon-to-be preacher?

Micah is determined to marry the young woman who has captured his heart despite knowing she has something to hide. But will he be able to remain true to his vows when his lady love’s shady past comes to light?

Captain Thomas Hawkins will go to any length to discover the whereabouts of his daughters. What will his determination cost the folks of Fairweather Key?

When Ruby finds herself bereft of her newfound love and protector, will she run away in an attempt to escape her present as she did her past? Will Micah’s love cover the multitude of Ruby’s sins, or will Ruby’s duplicity cost her everything?


If you would like to read the first chapter of Beloved Counterfeit, go HERE

Farm Town on Facebook

My friend Sara sent me a Farm Town request on Facebook and now, I'm hooked. 'nuff said...

CFBA Blog Tour: Taking Tuscany

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Taking Tuscany
David C. Cook (May 2009)
by
Renee Riva


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Renee Riva writes humorous stories with a message, for both children and adults. Having been raised in a large Italian family with a great sense of humor, she has much to draw from for developing quirky characters.

She loves sharing her secrets for story starters at Young Author events, helping to spark the imagination of young minds. Renee and her husband live in Richland, Washington, with their three daughters, a dog, a cat, and until recently, her beloved hamster—may she rest in peace.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A. J. Degulio loved the idea of a visit to the Old Country... until her family decided to stay. It's 1972 and she's turning fourteen in a crumbling castle on a hill in Tuscany, wishing she were back in Idaho with her beloved dog, Sailor. In Italy, her blonde hair makes her stick out like a vanilla wafer in a box of chocolate biscotti, and she's so lonely her best friend is a nun from the local convent.

The challenges of roots and relatives are nothing new to A. J., but she's going to need more than the famous Degulio sense of humor to survive. Can't anyone see that Italy isn't really home? It will take a catastrophe - and a few wise words from a friend - for A. J. to understand that sometimes the only thing you can change is your perspective.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Taking Tuscany, go HERE

Lisa's Comment: I started this book Sunday evening before bed. I forced myself to put it down way after my bedtime. I finished it last night after dinner. Taking Tuscany has been added to my Top Ten Favorite Books list. The characters in Taking Tuscany will make you laugh and cry. Their quirks and characteristics make them linger in your thoughts long after the story has been read. I highly recommend this book.

CFBA Blog Tour: According To Their Deeds

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
According To Their Deeds
Bethany House (March 1, 2009)
by
Paul Robertson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:




Paul Robertson is a computer programming consultant, part-time high-school math and science teacher, and the author of The Heir. He is also a former Christian bookstore owner (for 15 years), who lives with his family in Blacksburg, Virginia.






ABOUT THE BOOK

A Deadly Game of Justice Versus Mercy Charles Beale lives outside the shadow of Washington, D.C. Politics and power matter only when a client crosses the Potomac to visit his Alexandria Rare Books shop.

But that all changes when a former client--a man deeply connected in the Justice Department--is found murdered after a break-in gone bad. When Charles reclaims at auction the books he'd once sold, he quickly discovers he's bought more trouble than he could have ever imagined.

Inside one volume are secrets. A collection of sins that, if revealed, could destroy reputations, careers--even lives. Charles soon learns he isn't the only who knows. Going to the police means ruining a multitude of lives. But staying silent puts a target on his shop, his wife--and himself. Charles must decide: Should one mistake really cost you everything?

If you would like to read the first chapter of According To Their Deeds, go HERE

Memory's Chalice

Our oldest son has many gifts, one of which is writing beautiful poetry. We're not talking Dr. Seuss rhyming here...he truly has an ability to string emotionally provoking words together to form beautiful word images.

Last year for Mother's Day, he wrote me a poem, typed it on the computer, and framed it. It's one of the most wonderful gifts I've ever received. The poem is titled, "Tears of a Mother's Life."

The first stanza reads:

A new dawn breaks and with a cry,
We take our first breath,
The warm embrace of mother and child.
A single tear of joy and love,
Falls from her and lands in Memory's chalice,
Never to be forgotten.
(Excerpt taken from A Tears of a Mother's Life
© Scott Jordan 2008)


Okay, my throat is thickening by reading that opening line. LOL, I'm a sap.

The poem details a mother/son voyage from birth to death. If you have children, you truly understand the bond between mother and child.

One Sunday morning, our son nudged me and asked for paper. Instead of scolding him about writing during church, I simply dug through my purse for the ever present notebook and handed it to him. He penned another poem. I understood the need to write when an idea hits.

Our son entered a poetry contest through our county library. He submitted three poems. Last night we attended the public reading and awards event. His poem, "To My Snowy Thornless Rose", the one he wrote during church service won fourth place. It's about an elderly man saying goodbye to the love of his life. We were excited with this placement. He read the poem in his manly voice, and then accepted his award. Two other students won third and second places for their poems. Then, they announced the first place winner. Our son won first place for his poem, "Tears of a Mother's Life."

As he read the poem, I recorded him on my digital camera with tears streaming down my face. Even as I type this, the backs of my eyes feel heavy and warm. To say I was pleased is an understatement. It's not the award or the winnings that touch my heart, but the true love for me that my son wrote about. We have a deep connection. We clash often, but Hubby says that's because we're so much alike.

Our son graduates from high school in less than a month, and then he will be off to college. That will be a new season in our lives--one I'm not ready for, but I have to let him go to spread his wings.

I'm truly thankful for the two boys God has gifted us with. They are unique and complete in their own individual ways. Both boys have gifts and abilities that set them apart from anyone else. As they grow from little boys into men, I treasure each hug, each "I love you, Mom," each memory and allow my tears to privately collect in memory's chalice.

CFBA Blog Tour: Shame

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Shame
David C. Cook (May 2009)
by
Greg Garrett


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Greg Garrett has published newspaper and magazine features, short stories, personal and critical essays, reviews, encyclopedia articles, novels, a memoir, and books of nonfiction during his thirty-year writing career.

Author of the critically acclaimed novels Free Bird (chosen by Publishers Weekly and the Rocky Mountain News [Denver] as one of the best first novels of 2002) and Cycling, as well as the nonfiction books The Gospel Reloaded (with Chris Seay), Holy Superheroes!, the spiritual autobiography Crossing Myself, The Gospel According to Hollywood, and the forthcoming Stories from the Edge, Dr. Garrett is a past winner of the Pirate's Alley William Faulkner Prize for Fiction, and a regional CASE gold medalist for nonfiction.

He was elected to the Texas Institute of Letters in 2005 for his lifetime literary achievements. Professor of English at Baylor University, Dr. Garrett was named the Outstanding Baylor Faculty Member for 1994 by the Baylor Student Congress, and received the university administration's outstanding professor award in 1996. He received his Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University, and recently completed the M.Div. at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, where he lives, writes, and serves as a lay preacher at St. David's Episcopal Church.


ABOUT THE BOOK

It's hard to appreciate the life you have when you're wondering about the one you might have had.

John Tilden's glory days are far behind him, and now it seems like all he has is the monotony of everyday living. He certainly thought there'd be more to it than his ramshackle Oklahoma farm and a mundane job coaching basketball at his old high school. He questions his fatherhood skills too: His oldest son won't speak to him, his younger son wants to quit the basketball team, and now his daughter wants to go out on dates. He loves his wife, but the marriage has settled into complacency.

With John's twentieth high school reunion approaching, he has agreed to play in an exhibition game with the old championship team. And his ex-girlfriend's back in town, newly single. What might have been now seems closer than ever.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Shame, go HERE

What I Learned From Being a Non-traditional Student!

(Me in my dorky looking graduation cap after receiving my diploma.)

Saturday, May 2, I graduated summa cum laude with an associate of science degree in Early Childhood Education. My degree took three years to complete, but the journey was a valuable process I will never forget.

When I graduated from high school, I went to college the following August and attended for three semesters, but turmoil and financial setbacks in my personal life prevented me from obtaining my degree. In the meantime, I married a sexy Marine, had two boys, and worked at raising my family. I wanted to finish my college education at some point.

That God-given opportunity occurred in 2006 when I attended a training for my profession and learned an in-state university was offering an early childhood education program. Graduates could earn their A.S. in ECE in four years since it was a part-time program. I was accepted into the program and enrolled in the Fall 2006 semester. Many of my credits from my previous college experience transferred, so I completed the program in less time.

Here's what I learned from being a non-traditional student:

1. God opens doors. My return to college was definitely a God thing. He provided the finances, the study time, my cries for wisdom when assignments seemed too difficult, and friends and family who supported and encouraged me.

2. Family support is essential. Without my family's support, albeit somewhat grudgingly at times, I would not have been able to obtain my degree. After working all day, making dinner was one of my least favorite tasks. Many times my family stepped in to help with dinner, the laundry, and other household chores when I needed to take a test or finish an assignment.

3. Study buddies are essential. I could not have gotten through my classes without the support of my friends. One of my very good friends enrolled when I did, so we had many of the same classes. We were able to work together on projects from time to time, but we were able to help each other out when one of us didn't understand something. I had colleagues who encouraged and cheered me on. I had online friends who listened to me whine while I did homework.

4. Online classes are the way to go. Prior to returning back to school, I had no experience with taking online classes, so I wasn't sure how that would work out. I gotta tell ya--it rocked! I loved the ability to do homework and participate in class discussions in my pajamas. I worked around my schedule and spent a couple of hours each evening doing homework. If I didn't feel like doing homework that night, I didn't. On campus, you're committed to a set schedule of classes. My exams and assignments were due by a specific date, and I always turned them in on time.

If you're considering going back for your degree, I encourage you to check out local universities and see if they have online programs. There's a certain thrill in hearing your name being announced and walking across the stage to receive your diploma. I worked full-time, raised a family, and wrote the rough draft of two novels while working toward my degree. I'm looking forward to using study/homework time with writing time now!

Woo hooo!! I'm done! I'm done! I'm done!