Books – Page 11 – Janet Grunst

November 14, 2013November 12, 2013

Brave New Century ~ Just Released ~ Inspirational Historical Romance

I’m delighted to feature a newly released anthology.

Brave New Century

Inspirational Historical Romance from Prism Book Group

Stories of four young women who are each braving challenges at the dawn of the 20th century in the big city. Will they overcome their hardships and find love?

Three Rings for Alice by Lisa Lickel

Love and respect in 1899 Milwaukee is as close as a phone call.

Forgiven by Paula Mowery

When Henry and Jessie meet it seems to be classic love at first sight until a shocking revelation tears them apart.

The Pocket Watch by Kathleen Rouser

Searching for the past an orphan and a young doctor find love for the future.

Flames of Hope by Teena Stewart

Love ignites in the midst of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.

More about Three Rings for Alice:

Our opening story, Three Rings For Alice, shows Alice Smith’s struggles to be a modern woman at the turn of the twentieth century in America. Orphaned, she must make her own way in an age when women are just coming into the workforce. Despite a proposal of marriage from a long time friend, she

determines to marry for nothing less than love, even if her love is a voice over the telephone.

About the author: Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. A muti-published, best-selling and award-winning novelist, she also writes short stories and radio-theater, is an avid book reviewer, blogger, a freelance editor, and magazine editor. Visit LisaLickel.com.

More about Forgiven:

Henry Smith has little interest in the plans his parents have for him when it comes to his career and who he will marry. His world is turned upside-down when a shoot-out ends in fatalities.

Jessie Lee Capelle and her sister strike out from the orphanage their father mysteriously abandoned

them at to make a life for themselves. Shamed by her background, Jessie struggles with Henry’s attention.

Just as Henry and Jessie decide on a life together a shocking revelation could force them apart unless true forgiveness can be found.

Paula Mowery is a published author, speaker, and acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group. Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living. She reviews Christian fiction for several authors. She is a member of ACFW and on their author interview team. Paula is a pastor’s wife who lives with her husband and daughter in East Tennessee. Find her at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com or connect with her through her author page on Facebook.

More about The Pocket Watch:

Isabel Jones, an orphan, receives a ruby ring left by the mother she never knew and wants more than ever to find her roots. When a young physician, Daniel Harper, rescues her from an oncoming automobile and she finds his pocket watch in a puddle, her circumstances take a turn. She begins to

consider what life outside the orphanage could be like. Daniel’s heart has been broken before and the attractive young lady who finds his treasured timepiece wouldn’t be deemed suitable by his social climbing parents.

When Isabel and Daniel work side by side, caring for the orphanage children during an influenza epidemic, she becomes gravely ill. Compelled to redeem the time by helping her find the past, Daniel finds a buried truth that creates an unbridgeable chasm between them. Where will they find hope in a hopeless situation?

About the author: Kathleen Rouser has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could even read. The Pocket Watch is Kathleen’s debut novella. She has been published in Homeschool Digest and An Encouraging Word. She currently enjoys interviewing authors for the Novel PASTimes historical fiction blog. Her desire is to bring to life endearing characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. She lives in southeast Michigan with her hero and husband of 31 years, Jack, who not only listens to her stories, but also cooks for her. Find her at: www.kathleenrouser.com, www.novelpastimes.com and https://www.facebook.com/kathleenerouser

More about Flames of Hope:

Young San Francisco police officer Gideon Light is smitten the moment he sees Lily McMinn rolling down the awnings on her father’s mercantile. Lovely, petite, and spunky, Lily had to grow up quickly

after her mother passed away. She not only oversees the welfare of two younger siblings, she also helps run her father’s business.

Gideon and Lily are immediately attracted to each other and soon become good friends. It doesn’t take long before Lily realizes her feelings for Gideon have changed to something far deeper. He secretly harbors dreams of advancing in the force to earn a substantial enough income to make Lily his wife.

Before either has a chance to pursue each other, however, an earthquake of unthinkable magnitude shatters their world. With a raging fire fast in its wake, tragedy and triumph await as Gideon, Lily, and her family flee for their lives with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Set during the time of the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, this tale of great loss, incredible human courage, and sweet romance, will inspire and warm your heart.

About the author: Teena Stewart is a published author, an accomplished artist, and a ministry leader. In addition to Brave New Century, her recent published books include Mothers and Daughters: Mending a Strained Relationship and The Treasure Seeker: Finding Love and Value in the Arms of Your Loving Heavenly Father. Brave New Century represents Teena’s first fiction inclusion in a book. She and her husband Jeff are involved in “out-of-the-box” organic church ministry in Hickory, NC. For more info on Teena visit www.teenastewart.com

Available at: Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-Century-Lisa-Lickel/dp/1940099250/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384256685&sr=1-5&keywords=brave+new+century

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376373

Barnes and Noble, Prism Book Group, All Romance eBooks, Sony Reader Stores, KOBO

August 29, 2013August 28, 2013

Meet Carrie Pagels, author of “Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance”

Today, I’m delighted to feature Carrie Fancett Pagels, a friend of mine who has recently had her debut inspirational fiction novella, Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance published.

Carrie has been an inspiration to me in the past two years as we’ve been traveling the path to publication.

Carrie, what sparked your personal writing journey?

I had been writing for years, since childhood. What really jump-started my writing was when our son sank into autism after a second set of MMR shots. I felt like I might lose my mind with all his bizarre and extreme behaviors (which I won’t describe here.) I began writing a story about a boy who recovered, over time, with God’s help. And PTL, my son has made tremendous strides and is doing very well now.

Let’s talk about your new inspirational book, Return to Shirley Plantation. Please tell us about it.

This story is about radical obedience despite what might be in a situation for oneself; selfless sacrifice and obedience to our Lord. It is about waiting for God’s leading and timing. Angelina Rose is a multi-generational mixed-race woman who is only 1/8 African-American and appears white.

The Abolitionists used photographs of white slaves (white by appearance but in slavery like Angelina) to stir up Northern sentiments. An exhibit from a couple of years ago, that focused on this, stirred my interest. I began to imagine how a girl in the 1860’s, enslaved, could be 1/8 white at that point. It wasn’t a pretty thought. But unfortunately it happened frequently where you have multi-generational abuse of slaves, resulting in yet another generation of children born into slavery with a white father.

I used a thread in the book where Angelina compares herself with her sister, who is 1/4 African American and had a father whom her mother loved. I have to think that happened, too, where you knew you weren’t the product of a loving union. And I’d also read about a gentleman, who after his death was revealed to have been a man “passing” as white and he was a very prominent man up north. But essentially, the story is a romance and a historical fiction set at one of our nation’s Historical landmarks–Shirley Plantation, which is an amazing place.

Shirley Plantation was a Union field hospital during the Civil War. The Carter women were very impressive in their willingness to tend to the wounded soldiers. Mary Braxton Carter, in particular, is documented to have possessed a very strong faith. And I have a tragic figure, the real-life Hilly Carter, Mary’s son, who had trained to be a minister.

I hope my story will “take” people there and help them understand some of the things that went on during the war. I do not present a one-sided view (I am Northern-raised) but try to give a balanced approach to what people might have been thinking at the time.

God often teaches us something through our writing. What did you learn about life, faith, or yourself in the process of writing this book?

SO many things!!!

~ That I need a critique partner, like Kathy Maher, to help me.

~ That I don’t like to write in isolation.

~ That when God enables me to do something He will give me supernatural favor to get it done.

~ That listening for that still, soft voice is something we all need to do.

What are you working on right now?

Two different manuscripts–one is set up north during 1895 and the other is set along the James River in 1745! I am going back and forth between the two!

Thank you so much, Carrie, for joining us today. Every success as you continue to serve God through your writing.

Here is a bit more about Carrie and where you can find her:

Bio – Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.

With a Ph.D. in School Psychology, Carrie served as a psychologist for twenty-five years. Married for over 25 years to the love of her life, she resides in Virginia’s historic triangle. She has an 11-year-old son and a 24-year-old daughter.

Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance, is an Amazon top-rated Civil War book.

Carrie contributed to God’s Provision in Tough Times, Lighthouse of the Carolinas (July, 2013).

Carrie’s short story, “Snowed In: A Northwoods Christmas,” will appear in Guidepost Books’ A Christmas Cup of Cheer (October, 2013).

www.carriefancettpagels.com

Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Fancett-Pagels/317053071710640?fref=ts

Facebook Personal Page http://www.facebook.com/carriefancettpagels

Twitter https://twitter.com/cfpagels

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/carriefpagels/

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7043690.Carrie_Fancett_Pagels

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=131454255&trk=tab_pro

Links to purchase Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Murray-Puras-American-Series-ebook/dp/B00C2EZ5L6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370264197&sr=1-1&keywords=carrie+fancett+pagels

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murray-puras-cry-of-freedom-volume-1-return-to-shirley-plantation-murray-pura/1114941171?ean=2940016542836

God’s Provision in Tough Times

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Provision-Cynthia-Howerter-La-Tan-Murphy/dp/1938499441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358266747&sr=8-1&keywords=cynthia+howerter

August 5, 2013August 22, 2013

My Work

Writer’s manuscripts are like children. We pour our time, love, faith, wisdom, imagination, discipline, and hope into them. We want to see them mature into a creation we can be proud of, and that others will benefit from and enjoy.

THE CAPTIVE HEART is a manuscript and STEWART’S GREEN is a work in progress.

She indentured herself and fled Scotland

on a ship to Virginia

to escape disgrace and start a new life,

only to find faith and a future she could never have anticipated.

Book One ~ A story of forgiveness

THE CAPTIVE HEART

Woman Colonial_Woman_Williamsburg_(4664967915) — photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg

In 1770, Heather Douglas, disillusioned and desperate to escape her native Scotland, signs a seven year indenture and flees aboard a British merchant vessel headed for the Virginia colony. When a common planter purchases Heather’s indenture and takes her to his farm, she is faced with new and constant challenges. It is in the Virginia countryside that Heather begins her greatest journey, one of self discovery and of maturing faith. Here, she discovers that her emotional and spiritual scars bind her far more than her indenture.

Matthew Stewart, a widowed farmer with two young children, needed someone to help raise them. Was God leading him to take this unknown indentured servant as his wife? How would these two individuals, from opposite sides of the Atlantic, and each having experienced their own tragedies, bridge their differences to make a life together?

A tender, heartfelt novel about new beginnings and love blooming in unexpected places. The Captive Heart weaves rich history and romance together into a beautiful tapestry of faith sure to find a special place in readers’ hearts. Laura Frantz, author of Love’s Reckoning and Love’s Awakening

Life was better than she dreamed,

now the conflict between the

British and the colonists

threatened the loss of everything dear,

even her husband.

Book Two ~ A story of faithfulness

STEWART’S GREEN

It was spring of 1775 and the antagonism between the colonists and the British had escalated to direct confrontation. Throughout Virginia, as well as at the Stewart’s ordinary in the Virginia countryside, strife between factions loyal to the crown and those demanding independence was pitting friends, neighbors and families against each other. Like so many others in this newly birthed nation, Heather and Matthew Stewart’s world was turning upside down. Loyalties are questioned and when Matthew disappears, odd and confusing events create doubts and suspicion. The inevitable war will challenge the family’s faith, alter relationships, and change their lives forever.