Talking Love With Paula Mowery

My guest blogger today is Paula Mowery! Read her own true story below.

We’re told in Scripture that God is love. He definitely proved His kind of love is an unconditional and undeserved type through sending His Son to die for our sins.

Some love isn’t hard to conjure. God just helps us to enhance it. For example, I am still head-over-heels in love with my husband of twenty-six years. But through God’s Word and leading, I’ve learned to love my husband more like God planned for a wife to love her husband.

When my little girl was born, I was in love, even though it took a lot to get her here. But God has shown me how to love my daughter through example and discipline.

I struggled with infertility issues before finally conceiving my only daughter. My bitterness heightened each time I would hear about a young woman or girl who conceived out of wedlock and by accident. I cried out to God that this wasn’t fair. I wanted a baby and would care for that child and love that child, giving her a mother and a father.

Some years later I was approached by the director of our church association’s Pregnancy Crisis Center to become their devotional leader. I struggled with my answer for a bit but knew God was pushing me to do this.

As I shared about the love of God and then listened to these girls tell their stories, I had to repent of my former bitterness. God taught me to love and care for these girls and their babies. They each had a story with hopes and dreams of their own.

Everyone deserves to know about the unconditional love God offers. This is what I hope readers see in the story, The Crux of Honor.

Since God is love, when we allow Him to teach us His kind of love, we can’t help but be richer and enrich others.

Check out Paula’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…

The Crux of Honor

“Love does not dishonor…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4

Chelsea Wilson’s life is a constant reminder of what living dishonorably looks like. At every turn she continues to prove her mother’s shunning must be deserved. 

Dr. Kevin Alley returns to the old home place to establish his medical practice. After running into Chelsea, he knows his love for her is still strong. 
Chelsea is ousted from her small rented room when her mother bursts in, proclaiming Chelsea’s pregnancy. 

Kevin takes Chelsea in, giving her space to live on the upper level of his house. 

When Chelsea’s baby displays life-threatening symptoms, Chelsea must face her mother. Secrets unfold about Chelsea’s parents. Can Chelsea and Kevin uncover the secrets linked to Amish heritage in time to save the baby? Can the two find love together despite their history? 

http://amzn.to/1rdk3wS

www.prismbookgroup.com

The Books I Never Published

There are some things I just cannot bear to throw out. I have a stack of old, unpublished manuscripts. They take up room, but I don't have digital files for them because I typed out the stories on a manual typewriter. Every once in a while I take this small mountain of words out to wipe away the dust and groan, but I can't bear to part with them. They made me the author I am today.

The first book I finished was Irons in the Fire. However, it wound up being the second book I had published. The manuscript went through innumerable changes and edits. It made the rounds going from publishing houses to a variety of agents. Eventually, I finally received a contract for it. Meanwhile, I wrote other books. One was set in Florence, Italy, because I spent a summer there and I loved the place. One was set in Mexico and another here in NJ. After I finished writing the books and after a few more critiques, I realized each had problems--big problems. There were convoluted plots and too many characters. Fixing the books would take a lot of work and truthfully, I didn't even know where to start.

Then I came up with the idea for Sea Of Hope and some sort of writing magic happened. I got a contract for it. Some time later, I realized that writing those other books helped me to learn how to put a book together.

How many books have you written that are hiding under the bed, or on a shelf collecting dust? Can they be fixed or are there just too many problems in them?

Throwback Thursday Bridal Shower

This picture was taken at the bridal shower I received from hubby's family. It was held in the hall in the back of a bar somewhere in Brooklyn--and it was a surprise. (Hubby was worried that I would guess, but I had no clue.) Babci is on the left, my soon-to-be niece in the center. Cioci Stasi (Aunt Stella) is on the top right. (Cioci would have been 100 today! Happy Birthday in heaven, Cioci!) I am next to Cioci looking tired. On the bottom is my soon-to-be sister-in-law. I thought it was funny that both Babci and her sister, Cioci, showed up in polka dot dresses. 

This was one of three bridal showers given to me before I was married. My family gave me one--and at that one my mother gifted me with an outrageous frilly, lacey, almost-nothing negligee. She did it to get laughs. Mom was a bit of an entertainer. 

The other shower was given to me by the faculty at Cliffwood Elementary School where I worked. I shared the shower with my BFF, who was also going to be married. 

Back in those days, there were no bridal registries. So I wound up with three crock pots, two toaster ovens, and several other duplicate items. I gave one of the crock pots to my mom. I used the other two for years until I asked Daughter #1 to buy me a huge crock pot for my birthday a few years ago. She did--and I've been happily making massive amounts of food ever since.

Travel in the Olden Days

PATRIOT'S PRIDE is set in 1784, after the American Revolutionary War when Margaret must travel to England for the reading of her grandfather's will. She endures a long, perilous ocean voyage and then must travel overland to her destination. Riding in a stagecoach during that time period was difficult, uncomfortable, and dangerous. The prevalence of highwaymen made the trip even more fearful.

So far, PATRIOT'S PRIDE has garnered ten excellent reviews on Amazon! Join Margaret on her journey and try a sample today!

What Will You Read On The Beach?

How about a pirate book? Travel back in time with Lesley to 1711 where she lands on a pirate ship commanded by a daring captain saddled with a mutinous crew.

One review from Romance Reader said, "This book was fast-paced, with obstacle after obstacle, including prejudices and overcoming ignorance. It was a fun ride that I read voraciously from beginning to end. The paranormal elements were intricately woven. I'd recommend this book."

Check it out!

Mantraps for Trespassers

A few months ago I read an old Catherine Cookson novel, The Girl, and I am currently rereading Victoria Holt's The Legend of the Seventh Virgin. Both are set in the 1800s and both have scenes in which a mantrap disables one of the characters. The scenes in the books are rather gruesome. 

Mantraps are mechanical devices used to catch trespassers and prevent poaching. The poachers were the poor who did not have enough to eat and the mantraps were set on the estates of the wealthy. The use of such an instrument is another sad example of man's inhumanity to man since the victim of such a trap was often maimed for life afterwards--if he lived. 

You can read more about mantraps and see photos at http://www.ryemuseum.co.uk/mantrap/ or at http://www.godalmingmuseum.org.uk/index.php?page=man-trap

Surgery in the Old Days

Surgery in the old days had a very poor success rate. This is a doctor's amputation kit from 1822, it isn't much different from the tools used by the hero in my historical, PATRIOT'S PRIDE. My story is set in 1784, and the hero, Derrick Fortune, is very familiar with the use of the saw. He attended lectures at the School of Medicine in Philadelphia. However, when the Revolutionary War broke out, he and most of his fellow students along with the faculty  were pressed into service to tend to the wounded.

Derrick was quick with the saw, but despite his best efforts many of his patients died. In fact, only a third of those who went through an amputation lived. They died of infection. No one knew about bacteria in those days. (You can read a brief overview here: http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art06.htm)

After the war, Derrick decides to go to England to study with John Hunter, a renowned surgeon. (You can read a brief summary of John Hunter's life here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums/hunterian/history/johnhunter.html) Derrick hopes to find a way to prevent sepsis and he believes science holds the key.

It is on the ship that Derrick meets Margaret. The two clash immediately since she, like many of her female counterparts during that time, used herbs and various concoctions to aid in healing family members. She abhorred bloodletting. He believed in its efficacy in many diseases.

I have a board at Pinterest with more examples of Antique Medical equipment. You can find it here:
Follow Penelope's board Antique Medical Apparatus on Pinterest.

You can read more about PATRIOT'S PRIDE at

PATRIOT'S PRIDE

Check out the wonderful reviews at Amazon, too!

Talking Love With Lisa J. Lickel

My guest blogger today is Lisa J. Lickel, another Prism Book Group author with her own true life story about love. 

Lisa J. Lickel

From the time boys became more than “tag” targets I was never without someone of the opposite sex to hang out with, call on the phone, escort me to dances or movies, even when Mom was the chauffeur. I was a drama queen flirt, histrionic friend, and disingenuous church group groupie. I’d love to say it changed in an instant when as a middle teen the Holy Spirit provided the answer to that infinite question of whether Christ was for real. Decades later, I am still working out who I am on many levels. That story won’t get the final edit until it’s over.

In between, I went to college and joined not one, but two Christian groups, fell in love with the music, studying anything and everything, and the boy with the wispy blond mustache and highwater pants from one of the faith groups who prayed with me for John Denver’s soul. Seriously. We won’t know for a while if poor John received the benefit of our intervention. When the mustached boy didn’t run screaming after meeting my family for the first time when we got snowed in and ate turkey three days in a row, and his dad laughed in good humor when I dropped and broke dishes on the way from the table to the sink the first time I met his folks, I knew things would work out fine.

Two grown up children and an odd assortment of grands—girls, boys, and kitties—later, life is full circle as our oldest son heeded the call to seminary and now serves as area director for the many branches of the campus faith organization his dad and I attended. Son number two followed in his father’s footsteps, attempting to encourage a better world through public education. “Love is not proud” is not an easy description to avoid when it comes to introducing family.

Love has shown me all the attention I need has always surrounded me, filled me, poured out of me in ways I don’t have to control or manipulate, or understand. The Lord of life is in charge. My job is to leave behind a story that boasts only of God’s great mercy and grace exemplified in what He has done for me.

Check out Lisa’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…

Everything About You

“Love is not proud…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4

She needs a movie set miracle, he needs cash...can a farmer morph into a movie star in five days? 

If Shelly has her way, Danny will become America’s next heartthrob and she’ll get her own promotions company. He’s already gorgeous, a little naive, and needs to work on that accent. To Danny, Shelly is on the pompous side, but holds the key to his real dreams...if he can figure out all the rules, say the right things for the daily vlog session, keep his heart strings in place, dodge Shelly’s vicious former boyfriend and the movie star diva. 


Shelly’s about to lose a lot more than her heart if she can’t get a handle on her wounded pride and learn who to trust.

http://www.prismbookgroup.com/EverythingAboutYou.html

http://www.amazon.com/Everything-About-You-Lisa-Lickel-ebook/dp/B01BYIUBKA

The Cover Model

At the Liberty States Fiction Writers conference this past weekend I met the young woman who modeled for the cover of Irons In The Fire. Angelina Cavanaugh sat with me at the book fair and chatted about her life. Her lovely image now graces far more than two hundred book covers at this point. She has delightfully curly hair, which she said took her three hours to straighten when it came time to model for the cover of my book.

It was a real pleasure to meet her. I'll have to write about a heroine with curly brown hair in another book. :-)

The Man of Her Dreams . . . and Her Biggest Nightmare

Deborah M. Piccirelli is another Prism Book Group author. Her book Love Comes Calling has received wonderful reviews. Read some of them below.

Deborah M. Piccurelli’s book, Love Comes Calling, is a delightful read! I loved reading every line and plot twist of this story. The characters are endearing, the plot captivating and the story not only well-written but unique! By writer@heart

I love it when a story captures me right from the start, and Love Comes Calling by Deborah Piccurelli did just that. . . . Deborah Piccurelli has created a lovely story that is so much more than just a Christian romance. It’s a story of how a person can change and be transformed by God’s forgiveness and love. It’s also a story of hope, grace, forgiveness, and overcoming fears and obstacles. The author has masterfully woven together all of these elements resulting is an absolutely beautifully love story that is a joy to read. By Dali

What an awesome story! Honestly, I didn’t want to put this story down — it held my interest from beginning to end. By Donna's BookShelf

Deborah M. Piccurelli writes with just enough prayer and God to make it real without  overdoing. Love Comes Calling has a perfect combination of romance and Christianity  with likeable characters and a good plot. It was easy to become a part of the book and  cheer on both Derek and Charlie. Love Comes Calling is a great book for both young and  old and would make a fabulous Lifetime movie. Love Comes Calling is a winner that will  leave you smiling and feeling warm and fuzzy.  Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite Visit Deborah's website at www.deborahmpiccurelli  Read more about her book at PRISM BOOK GROUP or buy it now at AMAZON.