Meet Cindy Ervin Huff
Cindy Ervin Huff, a multi-published writer and winner of 2014 Editor’s Choice and 2017 Maxwell Awards for her first novel Secrets and Charades. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. A member of ACFW and founding member of Word Weavers, Aurora, Illinois. Check out her blog Jubilee Writer www.jubileewriter.wordpress.com or visit with her on social media.
Tell us about your newest book.
In my newest novel, New Duet, Isabella Wilson lost her identity as an artist when she married Music Pastor Ron Marklin. Verbal abuse and manipulation suffocated all her creativity and placed a strangle hold on her faith. Her husband’s sudden death during a church service poured guilt on her heart. Seeking penance, she agrees to live with her irrational mother-in-law. When her self-esteem reaches an all-time low, she discovers the truth behind Ron’s death and finds the strength to relocate to her sister’s home in Illinois. There she hopes to find her pre-Ron self and maybe her artist muse.
Wounded Warrior Dan Sweeney puts all his effort in appearing normal. Which isn’t easy when his prosthetic leg and missing fingers set him apart. His PTSD and panic attacks are kept at bay by his service dog, Brutus. Rebuilding his life as a civilian is harder than anything he encountered in the army. Isabella finds herself drawn to Dan which both scares and excites her. Until she can stand alone once more, she isn’t ready to stand with Dan. The military has made Dan a patient man. He senses the connection between them. Isabella’s vacillating response to his overtures both frustrates and encourages him. He will do whatever it takes to win the heart of this fragile woman.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I love historical romance and contemporary romance with more than boy meets girl substance. My stories have more going on before the characters reach their happily-ever-after. Things readers can apply to their own lives. Hope in hard times.
Why do you write?
As long as I can recall I’ve made up stories in my head. I’d talked out my imaginary scenarios in the shower and as I drifted off to sleep at night. It wasn’t until I became a Christian I felt God calling me to write. I wrote everything from skits to radio dramas to newspaper columns and children’s stories. I didn’t start writing novels until I was 50. That was awhile ago.
What drives you?
Now that I know God is in the character’s creation in my head, I freely release them on the page. I can’t not write.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
My heroine is Isabella Wilson and my hero is Dan Sweeney. Both characters “told” me their names. Isabella is Hispanic, adopted by a white family who has other international children. Dan is a wounded warrior.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
Oh, wow. Interesting question. I have my eldest son’s family living with me. He did his stent in the Army, and he and his wife went back to college. My three darling granddaughters live with us too. So, there’s lots of school preparation and after school homework. On top of that, my daughter-in-law’s father also lives with us. They are Filipino, and he had lived with them in Germany. Almost daily, we dog sit my eldest daughter’s aging dachshund. I work a part-time job and am responsible for my elderly mother in assisted living. On any given day my perfectly laid out schedule gets side-tracked. It seems the more writing commitments I have (presently I have four), the more my schedule gets wonky. But that’s life. Next year we will finally be empty-nesters, the chaos will probably take on other forms.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Believing in myself. There is always someone I feel is a better wordsmith. And before I was published, there were the naysayers. Now that I have book two coming out and other books in the pipeline toward publication, I still fight that unworthy feeling. Seeking the Lord always brings me back to trusting him for the words, the right critiques and editors to help shape those words, and the connections He wants me to have for publication.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Creating stories. I get to talk to people in my head without anyone thinking I’m crazy. And share God’s truth without hitting people over the head with Scripture.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
That question always draws a blank. But my most recent WIP led me to interview a Chinese college student about her culture. During the interview, she asked if she could ask me a personal question. She wanted to know why I looked so young on my FB page. (That’s my author headshot.) She went on and on about how she thought I was in my forties. I smiled and said, “it’s touched up.”
What are you most proud of?
Fulfilling my dream of getting a novel not only written but published. Secrets & Charades was rejected twenty times and took twelve years and lots of rewrites to receive a contract. New Duets only had a few rejections.
What is your favorite pastime?
Reading and playing games with my family. I have five children and when we all get together it’s game night. I also love walking with my hubby when the weather is nice.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Secrets & Charades is my historical romance.
What are you working on now?
It’ll be in a historical romance novella collection slated to release in 2019. It will be interesting to only write 20,000 words when I’m use to 80,000. I have completed the sequel to Secrets & Charades, but it is not contracted yet and the third book in the series is underway.
Website: www.jubileewriter.wordpress.com
Social media links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946016144/
Facebook Author page: https ://www.facebook.com/author.huff11/
Twitter: twitter.com/CindyErvinHuff
Facebook:www.facebook.com/cindy.e.huff.
Meet author Martin Wiles
Martin lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for Christian Devotions and as an assistant editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He is the author of six books and has been published in numerous publications.
Tell us about your most recent book.
Although I’ve had a number of articles and devotions published in a variety of publications, my latest published book is Grits, Gumbo, and Going to Church (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). This was a follow up to Grits, Grace, and God (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas). Since I’ve lived in the South my entire life, these titles were an attempt to put a Southern flare on the devotions.
What genre do you focus on and why?
My genre is religious nonfiction, and specifically, devotions. Having been a pastor for most of my working career, these come easier for me. I need a daily pickup, and devotions from others give me encouragement for the day. I write devotions, hoping mine will do the same for others.
Why do you write? What drives you?
I played around with writing a little during college when my English professor forced the class to keep a journal. Initially, I hated writing in it every day, but as time progressed, I enjoyed it more and more. I began writing devotions, and, eventually, began to think about having a number of those devotions put together in a book. As readers commented on how the words helped them, I became even more determined to pursue the gift of writing that God gave me.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
I am a five o’clock a.m. writer, with the exception of the summer. Since I am a school teacher, my summers are free. During those months, I am a six o’clock a.m. writer. But my thoughts are already formulated before I write. As all writers should, I keep a pad with me at all times and jot down writing ideas. The night before, I think seriously about what I’ll write the next morning. With an outline in hand, my writing the next morning takes less time from my already busy morning schedule. My goal is to write 400 words per day, with the exception of the weekends. I take Saturday and Sunday off to refresh and regroup.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
Rejection. Although my writing credits are numerous, I’m sure my rejections letters or emails would be longer if I had kept them—which I didn’t. Not taking the rejection personally was the hardest thing for me to learn, regardless of editors telling me not to. It wasn’t until I had a few acceptances under my belt that the rejections became less painful. When I became an editor, they became even less painful. I began to understand that the rejection likely wasn’t about me but about an editor having to choose among hundreds of manuscripts, articles, or devotions that were sent to them. I also began to trust God more to open the doors he had in mind for me.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
I suppose there is no feeling like the feeling an author gets when they see their name in print. Getting paid a little helps, too. But the best part is seeing how God uses what I write. I’ll never know the full scope of it, but comments from readers help.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
I suppose the craziest thing that has happened is also the most ironic thing. My first attempt at having a devotion published was with Christian Devotions. At that time, the editor, Cindy Sproles, worked with individual authors to help them improve their writing skills. She returned my devotion with kind words and numerous red marks. I was devastated. But she didn’t reject it. After several revisions, she finally told me it was ready. Today, nine years later, I’m the Managing Editor for this same website, doing for other authors what she did for me.
What are you most proud of?
As a Christian, I’m proud that God chose to adopt me into his family. As a husband, father, and grandfather, I’m proud of the wife, children, and grandchildren who support me. As a writer, I’m proud of the many who have and continue to support me in my writing journey. As an editor, I’m proud of two special editor friends who took a chance on me and let me wet my feet in the editing world.
What is your favorite pastime?
My favorite pastime is doing what I once hated: reading. I enjoy reading devotions, theological books, Christian living books, historical fiction, and yes, some of those sappy romance novels where everything turns out just as the reader wants it to.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Prior to Grits, Gumbo and Going to Church, I had the following books published: Grits and Grace and God (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas), Morning By Morning,Morning Serenity, Grace Greater Than Sin (America Star Books), and Authentic Christianity (Smashwords).
What are you working on now?
I am currently working with the publisher at Ambassador International, hoping this will result in a contract for another devotional book.
Website: http://www.lovelinesfromgod.com
Links to book:
https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Gumbo-Going-Church-Martin/dp/1941103847
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/martinwilesgreenwoodsc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/linesfromgod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelinesfromgod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-wiles-5a55b14a
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/martinwiles
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/103365483951277333062
Meet author Sherry Kyle
Sherry Kyle is a novelist and the award-winning author of The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style and Love, Lexi: Letters to God. Her newest title is True Heart Girls Devotional: God’s Promises for Me! Sherry lives with her husband and four almost grown children on the California coast. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys walking with friends and decorating her beach home.
Tell us about your newest book.
True Heart Girls Devotional: God’s Promises for Me! is for girls ages eight to twelve years old. Readers will enjoy stories about girls their age, as well as games, quizzes, recipes, and crafts that will help them discover God’s promises in the Bible that will make a difference in their lives and help them deal with the sometimes-overwhelming emotions that come with growing up. The suggested Bible reading will point readers to God’s word and help them dig deeper into each promise, and tween girls will identify with the five main characters as they grow through life’s experiences.
What genre do you focus on and why?
Recently I’ve been focusing on juvenile nonfiction. In the past year and a half, God has blessed me with four contracts in this genre—two work-for-hire projects from Zondervan, The Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations: 60 ultimate try-something –new, explore-the-world activities and a 365-day devotional in the Adventure Bible line, as well as two books in the True Heart Girls Devotional series.
Why do you write? What drives you?
I love to write books for kids that point them to God and His Word through relatable stories and fun activities. I have a tender spot in my heart for the tween age group because that is the time in my life that I accepted Jesus into my heart. Besides, writing for middle graders is a blast!
What does a day in your writing world look like?
I usually check e-mail and social media in the morning, then dive into writing around 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. My goal is around 1,000 words per day, depending on what I’m working on. No matter if I meet my goal, I always leave time to take a walk (while listening to an Audiobook) before making dinner.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
The hardest part for me about being an author is that writing is a solitary endeavor, for the most part. I’m an extrovert by nature, and need people to energize me. To help with that, I plan times to meet with friends for a walk or coffee so that I don’t become lonely.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
The best part about being an author is the friendships I’ve made through my readers and the writing community. I love receiving their e-mails or positive reviews, letting me know they’ve enjoyed my books. There’s nothing like it!
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
The craziest thing that I’ve experienced as an author happened at a writers conference. I was talking to the woman beside me at a meal and discovered that her daughter’s favorite book was The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style, my first nonfiction book for girls. Her daughter kept my book under her pillow to read at night! It was super fun to meet this mom and encourage her with her writing throughout the conference.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my family. I have been married to my college sweetheart for thirty years, who I love with all my heart, and together we have four amazing kids between the ages of 18-25. Each child is a blessing and a miracle.
What is your favorite pastime?
My favorite pastime is decorating my beach house. I recently chalk painted a cedar chest a pretty blue, and reupholstered some outdoor metal chairs I purchased from Craigslist. You can usually find me strolling through an antique store or surfing Pinterest to get ideas for my next project.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Besides writing for middle graders, I also have four novels in print, two contemporary women’s fiction (Delivered with Love and The Heart Stone) and two historical romance (Watercolor Dreams and Road to Harmony) set in the early 1900’s. All my novels are located in California and have romance with a hint of mystery.
What are you working on now?
I am working on book 2 in the True Heart Girl’s Devotional series titled Thinking God’s Way. This book is full of stories, activities and crafts that focus on finding true joy by thinking about what God says is important in Philippians 4:8. This book is set to release in September 2019.
Website: www.sherrykyle.com
Link to book: https://bit.ly/2IM4t3C
Social media links:
You can visit Sherry at www.sherrykyle.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Susan’s Picture Books
As most of you know, I have two published children’s picture books for my youngest readers, parents, and grandparents—Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure. Both are lovely, illustrated storybooks for children ages four to eight.
Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya is a beautiful watercolor picture book that tells the story of a little girl and her family who travel to Kenya, Africa, to visit missionaries and the Maasai tribe. Lexie learns to be patient meets a mischievous boy who becomes a bully to her.
Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure, is a bright and colorful children’s book that teaches little ones about the colors of the rainbow and the fruits of the spirit, while enjoying a story of cooperation, friendship, and love. Princess Madison loves rainbows. She wants her colorless kingdom to be beautiful and vibrant, like rainbows. When Princess Madison follows mysterious footprints into the forest, she meets Rainbow Roy. The two work together to grow an amazing garden, fill the kingdom with wonderful fruit, and bring beauty back to the entire kingdom.
I am asked over and over again, “How do I ever come up with these stories?” My oldest granddaughter, Reagan Lexie, inspired Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya. She was born and lived in Africa until she was seven and had lots of adventures there. My second granddaughter, Madison, inspired Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure when I was visiting her in Cape Town, South Africa. Madison loves to dress up as a princess and everything she colors is a rainbow—even horses, houses, and more. One day I asked her why she colors everything a rainbow and she said, “God made rainbows and I love them.” Well, that got my imagination running wild and before you know it, I had another picture book in the works.
Trouble is, I have two more granddaughters, and the four year old is begging for her own book. What’s a grandma to do? Never a dull moment in an author’s life.
These storybooks would make a lovely gift for a little girl or boy in your life, so please check them out. Don’t forget, Christmas is only three months away! After you read them, please tell your friends about them on Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, in person.
And if you would be so kind as to leave a review of the books on Amazon for any of my books, I’d really appreciate it. How do you write a review? It’s really quite simple. Just go to the bottom of the book’s Amazon page and click on “Write a customer review.” Then, tell others what you liked about the book.
Reviews on Amazon are incredibly important and very much appreciated. Thanks, my friends, for your faithfulness to all of us authors.
Meet author Lori Wildenberg
Lori Wildenberg, mom of four, is passionate about helping families build connections that last a lifetime. She’s co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting ministry, lead mentor mom with the Moms Together Facebook Community, national speaker, and parent coach. Messy Parenting isLori’s 5th parenting book. For more information go to www.loriwildenberg.com
Tell us about your newest book.
Messy Parenting: Powerful and Practical Ways to Strengthen Family Connection contains a message I care deeply about— family connection in the present and for the future. Most parents raise their children in a way that actually may sabotage future connection and relationship with their children. I hope Messy Parenting shows them another more satisfying way.
What genre do you focus on and why?
Christian Family Life
Why do you write? What drives you?
My passion is fueled by my love for the Lord and desire to encourage healthy faith-filled families. God calls Himself our helper. We are to depend upon Him and also help each other.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
It isn’t too glamorous. I sit at my desk and pluck away at the keys and forget to eat. Then when my back begins to ache I decide it’s time for a walk and a talk with God.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
To reach people’s hearts I must open mine. I’m a fairly private person so this transparency can be tough. Sometimes I feel sort of …exposed, naked. But to God be the glory in the way that He moves when I am obedient. He allows me to see how my writing has helped someone else. This is such great encouragement.
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
I love being with my readers and hearing from them. Doing a speaking event, leading a workshop, or speaking at a conference where I can have personal interaction and conversation with parents brings me great joy. I love helping and supporting moms and dads to be the best parent they can be!
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
Once I was on a live local cable TV show. The host opened it up to callers. Most people who called in asked typical parenting questions. Except for one man… he asked, “Can God grow back a missing arm?” His non-parenting question totally threw me for a loop. I frantically looked to the host for support. Shea answered his inquiry well. “If God can raise the dead, he can grow back an arm but he typically doesn’t respond this way to missing limbs.”
What are you most proud of?
One thing that comes to mind as kind of a cool accomplishment is my daughter Kendra and I, along with two other moms and daughters, hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim. It was by far the hardest physical thing I had ever done. I even got heatstroke and lost almost all of my toenails! (gross)
What is your favorite pastime?
We live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and my favorite pastime is hiking those hills with my family and dog.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes, I have four other parenting books in addition to Messy Parenting. My fourth book was published May of 2017 titled, Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home. My three previous books I co-authored with my 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting ministry partner, Becky Danielson: Raising Little Kids with Big Love, Raising Big Kids with Supernatural Love, Empowered Parents: Putting Faith First.
What are you working on now?
I have a few book ideas brewing. We will see what my publisher (New Hope Publishers) thinks. So stay tuned!
Website: www.loriwildenberg.com
Link to book: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Messy-Parenting-Practical-Strengthen-Connections/dp/1563090414/ref
New Hope: https://www.newhopepublishers.com/shop/messy-parenting/
Social media links:
Facebook : Lori Appel Wildenberg
Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/1Corinthians13Parenting
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MomsTogetherGroup/
Twitter: @LoriWildenberg
Instagram: Lori Wildenberg
Meet Marie Sontag
Marie Sontag loves learning, writing, and kids. These passions melded into a desire to write historical fiction for middle-grade and young adult readers. After earning a BA in social science, teaching middle school for over fifteen years, and completing a PhD in education, her focus was and still is to bring the past to life for today’s youth.
Tell us about your newest book.
My latest release, The Silver Coin, completed the trilogy, Ancient Elements, a series of middle-grade historical fiction novels set in ancient Mesopotamia. My current work in progress, a YA historical fiction novel tentatively titled Yosemite Discovered, grapples with tensions between Native Americans and gold prospectors during California’s gold rush, leading to the whites “discovery” of Yosemite.
What genre do you focus on and why?
I love writing historical fiction for middle-grade and young adult readers. As New York Times bestselling author, Laura Elliott states, “historical fiction helps readers imagine, to contemplate what they might do in the difficult and often death-defying plotlines of past eras.” What better way to engage youth, whose primary maturation goal is self-identity?
Why do you write? What drives you?
I’ve always had a hard time falling asleep. I recall how, at the age of six, I’d make up stories about Robin Hood to entertain myself before drifting off. In college I read Erik Erikson’s book, Identity: Youth and Crisis. That’s when I decided to teach middle school and/or high school. At that point, having recently solidified my own identity as someone fully known, forgiven, and loved by her Creator because of Jesus Christ, I dedicated my life to helping youth navigate the tumultuous waters of self-identity. Writing historical fiction extends my sphere of influence from the classroom to the space between the pages of a book and a reader’s heart and mind. I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than helping youth grapple with questions such as, who am I, why am I here, and where am I going through the vehicle of historical fiction.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
In Yosemite Discovered, my main fictional character is Daniel. I chose this name because it means God is my Judge, God rules me, and Judge of God. In this gold rush story, thirteen-year-old Daniel, an orphan from Illinois who travels with his guardian to California in 1846, must, by 1850, decide if he will follow the path of his guardian, the historical figure of James Savage. In 1851, Savage led the Mariposa Battalion into Yosemite Valley to rout out renegade Indians, resulting in the whites’ discovery of Yosemite.
What does a day in your writing world look like?
My writing days are a frantic balance between spending every other afternoon with my three-year-old grandson when my daughter-in-love is at work, then writing and maintaining our household for two, which means occasionally cleaning, restocking the fridge when empty, and cooking. I typically spend four to eight hours a day honing my craft and setting words down on the page. Depending on the day’s schedule, this happens either in the morning, the afternoon, and/or evening. Occasionally you’ll find my light on at 2 a.m. if a story takes me there.
What is the hardest part of being an author? Why?
The hardest part of being an author is not letting my zeal for writing overshadow my higher priorities of my relationship with the Lord, my husband, kids, grandkids, and my personal physical health. I have to conscientiously pursue this balance because I have a very goal-oriented, type A personality. And writing is so much fun!
What’s the best part of your author’s life? Why?
Meeting and/or communicating with people who actually took part in events I’ve written about—such as Halina Butler, a Girl Guide, and member of the battalion in Warsaw during WWII, in which my main fictional character was a member, and Dr. Julian Kulski, a Boy Scout and participant in Warsaw’s 1944 uprising, the subject of my book, Rising Hope.
What is the craziest thing you’ve experienced as an author?
The “chance” meeting I had with Halina Butler who read my book, Rising Hope. She told me she had actually been part of the Warsaw battalion, Zoshka, in which I placed my fictional character during the Poles’ uprising against the Germans in 1944. After our “chance” encounter at a Polish festival, I then had the pleasure of having tea with her in her home and hearing more of her personal story.
What is your favorite pastime?
My favorite pastime is playing trains and reenacting scenes from The Land Before Time with my three-year-old grandson (he loves to pretend he’s Red-Claw).
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
My historical middle-grade novels comprise The Ancient Element series: The Bronze Dagger, The Alabaster Jar, and The Silver Coin. My first YA novel Rising Hope, is the first in the proposed series, Warsaw Rising.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently completing a YA historical fiction novel, Yosemite Discovered.
Website: http://www.mariesontag.com/
Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Coin-Ancient-Elements/dp/1620067986/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520069021&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=The+siver+coin+marie+sontag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarieSontag
Twitter: https://twitter.com/profsontag
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maries3612/boards/
Author Video Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9UXzsMHSlzO5twS5ryIaw