Into a New Year

As we begin a new year, it's common to reflect on the last one, often looking to see what we need to do differently in the coming one. The hope is that the new year will be better than the last. As Christians, we need to assess our faith. How much have you been influenced by God, His Word, and His truths in your daily life? Do you live your life always conscious of God and His will, wanting to please Him? Do you make Him your first priority, far above everything else?

Christianity is the only religion I know that offers believers as many new starts as they need to get it right. We just need to recognize our failings and repent before God. His grace is free, and we don't have to do anything to earn it. What Christ did on the cross cleanses us, nothing we do can.

So as we begin 2024, let's make this the best year yet by turning to God completely, totally surrendering to Him, and letting Him have His way with our lives. This is the secret to living the best year ever. It is freeing and brings peace and contentment, no matter the situations or chaos around us. It's what we all need.

_____________________________

Merry Christmas 2023

 

 Christmas Warmth

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

For many who live in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas can be a cold time with frigid temperatures and sometimes snow, but there's something about Christmas that warms the heart. It's all about giving, family, and love, based on what God gave to us by sending His son to earth as the ultimate sacrifice. He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to be close to Him again after mankind's relationship was broken by man's original sin in the Garden of Eden. He gave us a way to salvation and eternal life in Heaven with Him, based on who He is and not who we are.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).

The Christmas lights, presents under the tree, friendly holiday greetings, and get-togethers with friends and family should all remind us of this. Think about it. There's so much to warm our hearts at Christmas. There are simple things: a cute puppy, a beautifully decorated tree, the smells of kitchen baking, cuddling in front of a warm fire, watching the snow fall and clean the landscape white, listening to special carols, and so much more.

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings (Psalm 36:7).

And there are big things: God's love and blessings, His presence in our lives, faith and trust, family and friends, home and provisions, security and contentment, and peace and joy. Look for those special, warm moments this Christmas, and continue to watch for them all year long, keeping Christmas and Christ in your heart.

__________________________

 Tessa's Time

My next book to be published is Tessa's Time.  I'm very excited about releasing this novel on December 26th because all my early readers and editors have raved about it. It is the last book in the Suffrage Spinsters series, but don't let the series title mislead you. Although the heroines support a woman's right to vote, these are sweet romances that speak to the heart.

Tessa's Time begins in New York but quickly moves to California. After his fiancée jilts him for not spending enough time with her, Avery Brown goes to San Francisco as a guest musician. Vowing to avoid such entanglements in the future, he hadn’t expected to meet such a beautiful young lady as Tessa McDonald or be so attracted to her. However, he won’t change his resolve. Astor is the third woman to be jealous of his violin, and he's had enough.

So far, Tessa has managed to fend off all the men interested in courting her. She wants to build her writing career and continue to work for a woman's right to vote, and most men are too controlling or narrow-minded to accept either. When she meets the visiting violinist from New York City, she likes him, but she doesn't expect him to be any different. Yet, the more she gets to know Avery Brown, the more different he appears. She doesn't want to give up her dreams, but dreams can shift and merge, can't they?

Tessa's Time is on preorder now

________________________________

The Legend of Christmas Tree Lights

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are light in the Lord: walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

I find it interesting to look into where some of our Christmas traditions come from, and many have religious significance. Take our Christmas lights for example. You can see them everywhere, from well-lit houses, to mall and store decorations, to towns all over America, to our Christmas trees, and beyond.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:15-16).

Lighting up for Christmas goes back to the 1500s. Of course, they used candles for their lighting then. Legend has it that the well-known theologian, Martin Luther, was the first person to put lights on a Christmas tree. Supposedly he was walking home one night and saw the bright stars sparkling through the tree branches. When he got home, he wanted to recreate the awe and beauty of what he'd seen and have a reminder of our majestic Creator, so he put up a tree in the parlor and lit it with candles. Other people liked and copied it, and a tradition was born.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1).

Of course, Jesus came as a light to the world, a way from the darkness of sin. He is definitely the reason for the season. So, when you see Christmas lights this year, especially those on a Christmas tree, remember the beauty of what they represent -- the coming of our Savior and a way to spend eternity with Him.

_____________________________

• 
  

Christmas Books in 2023

Last year, I blogged about the Christmas books I've published so far. See this blog, but I've released four more in 2023, and I thought I'd mention them here for all of those readers who like to read Christmas books over the holidays. I must admit that I'm one of them.

The first one I published isn't a Christmas book per se, but Christmas does play an important part in it.  In Simon's Shame, Simon Carlson couldn’t learn to read and therefore failed at school. Thanks to his bitter father, most people see him as a simpleton or worse. When a new schoolteacher comes to Flagstaff, she treats him as a normal person, even after she finds out that he can’t read or write. She seems to understand him better than anyone, and Christmas begins to change Simon on the inside. Might his future turn out brighter than he thought?

Link to Simon's Shame

Upside-Down Cakes by Dana, part of the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series is a Christmas book. When Dana Field’s father dies, leaving her all alone, she talks the new farmer and his mother into letting her work on their farm. He needed the help, she needed to stay busy, and her cake baking didn’t fill enough of her time. However, many of the townspeople didn’t think it was a proper task for an unmarried woman. Then a string of vandalism starts and escalates until she feels they’re in danger. Was it directed against the Polish family she worked for or her, and could it be one of the men who suddenly wants to court her? As the holiday season approaches, things come to a head.  Will it be a merry Christmas or one she will always regret?

Link to Upside-Down Cakes by Dana

Lily is a new book in the Christmas Quilt Brides series. I love quilts and used to be an avid quilter, so this book was a work of love on my part. Lily Brandt was glad when her father decided to move the family from Duluth to a farm in Iowa. She didn’t want to keep encountering her former fiancé and his new wife. But would Iowa turn out to be any better with her sister’s flirting and the handsome new neighbor’s quiet ways? She hadn’t gotten over Calem’s rejection yet, so she wasn’t ready for a new relationship. In addition, she had her grandmother’s quilt to remind her of her time in Minnesota and to be cautious. But sacrificing that precious quilt on her part and a special Christmas gift from Calem shows her where she can find true happiness at last.

Link to Lily

Another book in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series is Fruitcake by Fran. Francisco Quinn learned to bake fruitcakes from her deceased mother who had worked for the Collin Street Bakery. Fran changed the recipe to suit her tastes and sold them, especially during the holidays. When she meets Trent Jones, she tries not to pay him any attention because most Texans don't like her Mexican heritage on her mother's side. But as he remains persistent, she begins to wonder if he might be different. However, will his high-society parents accept her? An unusual Christmas will answer that question in a wonderful, heart-warming way.

Link to Fruitcake by Fran

So, what do you think? I've written four new Christmas novels with four very different stories. I hope you'll want to enjoy them all.

__________________________________________

 Shepherds Watch

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night (Luke 2:8).

Common shepherds were chosen to be one of the first to see the long-awaited Messiah and tell others that He had arrived. At one time, shepherding was a highly respected profession. It is one of the oldest occupations in the Bible. Adam and Eve's son, Abel, was a shepherd. Other biblical shepherds include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Amos, and David. The occupation started over 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor; and sheep became a mainstay of the region, providing meat, dairy products, and wool.

. . . that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34).

However, by New Testament times, the perception of shepherds had plummeted. The Egyptians hated shepherds, and after 400 years of slavery in Egypt, this idea stayed with the Hebrews through generations, even long after they came out of exile. After all, shepherds were rarely able to follow all the Jewish rules and regulations. For example, they couldn't properly keep the Sabbath and be out tending their flocks. 

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:12-14).

Yet, not only did a multitude of angels appear to shepherds and direct them to where the Christ child lay, but Jesus Himself would grow up to be called the Good Shepherd. God often chooses those considered common or lowly to do His work, not because they are better than others but because they're often more humble and willing to follow His directions. When you think about it, next to our Lord, we are all lowly and common. It's just that some of us realize it more than others.

__________________________

The Patee House, Steeped in History

The Patee House was a 140-room luxury hotel built by John Patee in 1858 in St. Joseph, Missouri. In its day, it was one of the best-known hotels west of the Mississippi. It served as the headquarters for the Pony Express and then the Provost Marshal's office for the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war, the building housed the Patee Female College until 1968 when the St. Joseph Female College took over. Private schools for women, such as these, were common during Reconstruction. It eventually became a hotel again, however. When Jesse James was killed in 1882 in his nearby home, his family stayed in the hotel. Oscar Wilde stayed in the hotel during the same year.

My husband and I visited the museum on our way to Deadwood, South Dakota, this summer. I wish I had space here to show all the photos because a few don't do it justice. We spent longer there than we'd expected, but it was time well spent. I would go again if ever given the chance.

The Patee House became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Today, it's an extensive museum, even housing an antique transportation section. There's also room after room of impressive antiques and information about life in bygone eras. I would recommend seeing this museum if you're ever in the area, but don't plan a quick stop. There's a lot to see.

_____________________________

 According to Thy Will

And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (Luke 1:30-31).

Mary must have been a special, godly person to have been chosen by God to be the earthly mother of His Son. The Bible tells us that she had found favor with God. She would get to be the mother of the Messiah, the long-awaited, promised One who came to be the Savior of the world. But what a responsibility! And how would it have been to have a son who is perfect when you are not?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

However, she was promised from the very beginning that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and I'm sure He was with her through all that she would face, and she faced some trials. Not long after Jesus was born, the family would have to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's jealous wrath. And I can't even imagine watching the child you had birthed and raised be abused and crucified. 

And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).

Mary served the Lord. Anything He asked of her she would do -- even this astounding request of a virgin birth. She must have known she would face ridicule and rejection. She could have even been stoned to death, but she trusted God and wanted His will to be done. We should do the same and be just as faithfully committed to God as this teenager was. There are many important lessons to be learned throughout the Christmas story.

___________________________

 My Last Book in the Series

Fruitcake by Fran is my last book in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series. I have five books in it. Walnut Cake by Wylene published on December 6, 2021. I published Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie on September 13, 2022, and Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern on October 25, 2022. This year, I released Upside-Down Cakes by Dana on August 29th, and Fruitcake by Fran will publish on December 5th. It's been a great series, and I've loved writing each book.

Many people don't like fruitcakes because they've had the dry ones baked and packed as cheaply as possible. I don't like those either. However, my mother made her own, using different fruits and nuts, and they were delicious. I included one of her recipes in the back of the book.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Francisca Quinn learned to bake and make fruitcakes from her deceased mother, who had worked for the Collin Street Bakery. Fran changed the recipe to suit herself and sold them as part of her baking business. When she meets Trent Jones, she tries not to give in to her attraction because most Texans don't like her Mexican heritage on her mother's side. However, his persistence makes her think he might be different, but will his high-society parents accept her? Read the book to find out what happens. 

Link to Fruitcake by Fran

______________________________________

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13).

______________________________

A Bakery and a Book

A well-known Texas bakery plays a part in one of my upcoming books. The Collin Street Bakery was founded in 1896 in Corsicana, Texas, by German immigrant August Wiederman along with the help of Tom McElwee. Corsicana is located about fifty miles south of Dallas.  In 1914, the Ringling Brothers Circus was in the area, and their performers ordered a large number of fruitcakes to be shipped all over the world, so the bakery established a mail-order business, and they became known for their fruitcakes.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Fran's mother worked at the bakery. When her mother died, Fran improved on the recipe her mother had changed and established a fruitcake and baking business of her own. Also, at the end of the book. I included my mother's recipe for fruitcake. I always thought it was much better than any others I've ever tasted, and I love how moist it is.

In Fruitcake by Fran, Fran experiences some prejudice and discrimination because her mother was Mexican, and it affects her business and relationships. When she meets Trent Jones, she tries to forget him because he's from high society, and she knows that could bring countless problems. However, Trent has other ideas, and I think readers will enjoy their story. The book will publish on December 5 and is available for preorder now. Check it out and reserve your copy.

Link to a Fruitcake by Fran

__________________________

 

 

Verses of Thanksgiving and Praise

Being thankful is specifically mentioned in the Bible 32 times and being grateful 157 times. Praising God is talked about over 250 times. It is obvious that we should live with a thankful heart all the time.  Sometimes, it's good to let the Bible verses speak for themselves:

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17).

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6).

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 136:1).

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13).

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name O most high: (Psalm 92:1).

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20).

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands (Psalm 100:1)

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 150:6).

_____________________________

Writing Rhythm

I've already published fourteen books in 2023, and I have two more to go before the end of the year. They're all multiple-author projects. I have to laugh at myself when I wonder how I built such a hectic writing schedule, and I've promised myself to never do this many in one year again. Great opportunities came along, and I accepted some of them. There were others I could have written for, but I did have the sense not to schedule more than two in any one month.

I've developed a routine that allows me to keep up. I write intensively for two to three weeks and get a rough draft finished. Then I take a week off from writing new material to edit a previously written manuscript and get caught up in other areas. I always do about six of my own edits on each book before I send it to a professional editor. Using this method, I have been able to stay about four months ahead which gives my editors and Audible narrators time to work. Interestingly, I've had to have two or three editors because one couldn't keep up.

I love writing, and it amazes me that I haven't burned out on it even with the rigorous schedule this year. On the off-weeks, when I'm not writing on a new manuscript, I miss it. However, I am looking forward to less pressure next year. Right now, I have eleven scheduled which is still a lot. I've vowed to never write more than twelve in one year again, but I think eleven will be it for 2024.

___________________________

Beyond the Lion's Den

Most of you likely remember the biblical story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. I grew up on stories like this as I'm sure many of you did. However, it always amazes me how many different lessons a story like this teaches. The story in Daniel 6 tells us that King Darius had appointed Daniel as one of the three presidents in the Persian Empire, and he was the most favored one. In essence, he was second in command, and the other Persian leaders became jealous of him, so they conspired to get rid of him. They had the king sign a royal statute that no one could petition any god for thirty days, except for the king, whom they viewed as a god; and if someone did, he would be thrown in the lion's den to be devoured.

Daniel had no intention to stop praying to God as was his custom. He didn't try to hide it but prayed in front of his open window, facing toward Jerusalem as he always had. His adversaries had him arrested, and according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, a royal decree could not be overturned. Although hating to do so, King Darius was forced to have Daniel thrown into the lion's den. But notice what the king said to Daniel. "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). Throughout his time in the Babylonian and now in the Persian Empire, Daniel had already been a strong witness for his God. First King Nebuchadnezzar and now Darius recognized God's mighty power.

The Bible tells us that Darius didn't sleep any that night because he was so concerned about Daniel. He also fasted the whole time. He got out very early the next morning to check on Daniel. "And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel. O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, who thou servest continually, able to deliver you from the lions?" (Daniel 6:20).

The Bible recounts Daniel's answer and what happened next.  "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and before thee, O king have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, and their children, and their wives; and the lions had their mastery of them, and brake all their bones to pieces or even before they came at the bottom of the den" (Daniel 6: 22-24).

But that wasn't all. Reading what happened next brings the good kind of emotional chills. "Then king Darius wrote unto all the people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble with fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end." How many people came to know God because of Daniel's faithfulness? It appears that King Darius certainly did. May our testimonies be as strong in a world that definitely needs them.

____________________________

Lily: Christmas Quilt Brides.

I grew up in the Appalachian Mountain region from a long line of crafters. Before I began writing full-time, I was an avid quilter, selling them at craft fairs and giving them to family. I love quilts, and my favorite part of the whole process is quilting the layers together. I do it the old-fashioned way, using a traditional large quilt frame the way my ancestors did. I normally quilted around twelve stitches per inch, which is rather fine, but I could do more if I tried. I often made four to six quilts a year, even while teaching and spending over twelve hours working on school activities most workdays.

I studied quilts, went to quilt museums, toured history museums with quilts, and browsed huge Amish markets in Pennsylvania. I collected quilt books, patterns, and boxes and boxes of fabric. I went to classes, studied quilts, and even appraised them. Therefore, when a recent opportunity came to write in a multiple-author quilt-themed series, I jumped at it.

I expected the novel would include my main character actually quilting, but the character-driven novel didn't work out that way. However, Lily loves quilts, and two of them are pivotal in moving the story to its conclusion. I hope readers have as much fun with the story as I did. Lily: Christmas Quilt Brides will publish on November 17 and is on preorder now. Be sure to check it out. It will be available on Kindle, KU, print, and Audible.

Link to Lily

___________________________