Winners!!

Happy Saturday, BB fans! Thanks to everyone who participated in our "puzzling" Friday giveaway! Keep all those facebook and Twitter notifications, coming!

This week's winner is:

Lisa Nelson - Because of Me by Fay Lamb!

Congratulations, Lisa! Please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your email address. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book!

Weekly Drawing

It's fun Friday at The Borrowed Book!

To enter:

Follow Us! Followers are automatically entered. Or...

Leave the time it took you to complete the puzzle in the comments section. Winners will be drawn from ALL of the times, so the person with the fastest time may not be the actual winner, but by leaving your time, you double your chances.

Want another entry? Tweet your puzzle time and mention The Borrowed Book, get another entry. RETWEET our Tweet, get two entries!

Post your puzzle time on BB's Facebook wall and...you guessed it...get another entry!

Post it on your OWN Facebook wall and you could get as many as FIVE entries.

It's all a way to spread the word about the great giveaways on BB. So c'mon! Help us spread the word, and have a little fun at the same time. :-)

This week's puzzle feature is brought to you by Fay Lamb and her newest release, Because of Me.

Fay Lamb Interview

I'm delighted to have Fay Lamb as a guest on The Borrowed Book today. Fay works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details.

Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’ critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010. In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary on ACFW’s Operating Board.

Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.

Welcome, Fay. Your book Because of Me released recently. Give us a blurb about the book.

Michael’s fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked and Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s home to set things right.Two people stand in his way: Issie’s son, Cole, and a madman. Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long ago?

Your heroine Issie Putman has had a lot of problems in her life.
What has happened in her past to cause her so much hurt?

Issie's Grandmama Viola Maynard sliced Issie's heart first when Viola's stubborn pride refused to allow her to help with the medical care that could have saved the life of Issie's mother. Then when Issie and Michael find themselves in trouble, Viola again puts her pride before her family. She manipulates a young assistant district attorney who wrongfully accuses, tries, and gets Michael convicted of a crime he did not commit, tearing Issie's world apart.

Your hero Michael Hayes has been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. How has he coped with this situation in his life.

Michael didn't cope too well at first. He wasn't sent to prison alone. He was sent there with the two men who perjured themselves to take him down with them. In prison, Michael attempts to take the life of one of the men, Kip Turner. Kip's reaction to what Michael did was the turning point in Michael's life and an introduction to a greater relationship with the Lord.

What do you want readers to take away after reading Because of Me?

I want readers to come away with the knowledge that God is a God of forgiveness, and a loving, kind Father who has always had a plan for us. Unlike our earthly fathers, God knows our paths. The truth of Romans 8:28, when we are told that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. . ." that's a continuation of God's promise that through Christ are sins are forgiven. We are so forgiven when we have Christ as our Savior that God has promised to make everything work to our good. As Michael and Issie discovered, even when we mess up, God has a plan, and sometimes when we look back at what has occurred in our lives, we can't imagine how life would have been if we hadn't turned the wrong corner.

What are you working on now?

I have several projects in the works. I'm editing a contemporary romance entitled Charisse and a contemporary fiction entitled Storms in Serenity. I also have three works in progress: a contemporary romance entitled Hope (the third book in a series), a novel entitled Resurrection, which is set within the professional surfing world, and another novel entitled Pride Like Diamonds, the story of a master jewel thief turned chef and the woman who loves him.

Besides writing, you are busy helping other writers. Tell us about your work with aspiring authors.

American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has a wonderful critique program called Scribes. Writers at all stages in their careers come together within Scribes and offer critique. Scribes members (both the large group and my small group) went through Because of Me and I couldn't have asked for better advice. I love working within the large group and helping writers form small groups. I also mentor when I can. I love to communicate with writers and answer questions on edits or about technique. Fiction is the one language I can speak.

The theme of forgiveness runs through your book. What would you say to our readers who are having a difficult time with that in their lives?

Christ walked this earth, and He set an example for us to follow. People say, "But you don't know what he did to me, or you've never experienced what I've gone through." I would never pretend to know the pain afflicted upon dear, wonderful people. I also cannot imagine what my Savior went through on a cross when He died for my sins. How prideful is it to hold on to your anger at others while you have been given a golden scepter that allows you to step before the King anytime you'd like, to fall down upon your knees and ask Him to help you to forgive those who have wronged you? Someone once said: "It's hard to hate someone you pray for." That's a very true saying. One other benefit of forgiveness: the heart you carry within you becomes a lot lighter.

What words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers who are struggling to become published authors?

Since I have gone against this advice, and I know what it cost me, here are three little words that will prevent you from stopping your career and wasting many years on self-pity.

Don't give up!

ACFW has a writing contest. Many of your readers are probably entrants. The entries are being judged, and winners will be announced. Some of the entrants are going to receive some hard advice we know as criticism from judges. You might learn some hard lessons from this or other contests or from the critique of authors or the rejections sent to you by editors and agents. Don't let your emotions tell you these people don't care about you or that you'll never be a writer. First of all, it takes as much practice to write as it does to play an instrument in the London symphony. Secondly, if your critics, especially in the Christian industry, didn't care about you, they wouldn't work so hard to be truthful, even when the truth hurts. Learn from what they say. If you think your critic is wrong, study, attend conferences, get out the how-to books and prove them wrong. But always be ready to admit that they were right.

Don't give up.

Great words for writers to remember. Thank you for being with us on The Borrowed Book today and best wishes in your own writing journey.

Write Right~Merciless Killers (Asiatic Cholera, Cholera Morbus, and Cholera Infantum)

After I discovered the possible cause of death of my grandmother’s sister in the late 1800s from cholera infantum, I began researching to better understand the disease. That search led me into a maze of historical medical information--everything from disease etiology to medicines of the past.

In 19^th century American medical records, three types of cholera are mentioned. Cholera morbus, cholera infantum, and Asiatic cholera. Asiatic cholera was (and is) caused by Vibrio cholerae, which was spread by water and food contaminated by an infected person. It could also be contracted by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. This is the “real” cholera that usually occurred in epdemic waves. Here’s one reference that a writer of historical fiction might be able to use: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=487

Cholera morbus and cholera infantum were terms for non-specific diarrhea in adults/older children and young children/infants, respectively. Cholera morbus was sometimes called the summer complaint--somewhat of an understatement based on what I've read. Cholera morbus and cholera infantum attacked from June or July to September or October.

Cholera infantum was a merciless killer, and the progression of the disease was frightening to watch. At the onset, the infant developed diarrhea. That was followed by vomiting. The infant was terribly thirsty, but couldn’t retain liquid. Soon the infant’s body became emaciated, the belly distended, and eyes sunk into the sockets. Often the little one would convulse. The skin became flaccid, cold, and gray. As the disease advanced to the end, the infant would sink into a coma and die.

The symptoms of cholera morbus were similar to cholera infantum and just as frightening. They began with excessive weakness and burning in the stomach. Then the person began to vomit and developed diarrhea. The patient was extremely thirsty, but unable to keep anything down.  As the disease progressed, the victim’s pulse grew weak and breathing became difficult. As with cholera infantum, the skin grew pale and cold. Eyes sunk in their sockets, looking heavy, dull, and sometimes filmy. Convulsions and severe cramping of the legs would occur.  

During the 1800s and into the early 1900s, doctors had numerous hypotheses for the origin of these two diseases. Theories changed as the centuries progressed. Excess bile in the stomach, miasmas of the air, unhealthy breast milk, crowded living quarters. . .the list is lengthy. Treatments changed as well. Cathartics, emetics, and bleeding, to herbal remedies and opiates. Some of the treatments had merit; others were deadly. The etiology of these two diseases appears to be unknown, but they were probably caused by a variety of gastrointestinal pathogens.

These tragic diseases could certainly lend some drama to the plot of an historical novel. Perhaps the miraculous recovery of an infant. Or a heroine/hero bitter about the loss of her infant or family member.

In closing, I want to stress that the information I’ve presented here is by no means complete. The topic is a broad one, and the information, especially in old documents, is scattered and sometimes contradictory.

*****

Here are two references I found:

Remarks of the Cholera Morbus: Containing a Description of the Disease the Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment; H. Young, M.D.;Smith, Elder, and Co. Cornhill; 1818 (I think. I can’t clearly read the Roman numerals.)

Save the Babies, American Public Health Reform and the Prevention of Infant Mortality, 1850-1929; Richard A. Meckel; The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1990

Upcoming Release Spotlight: Nursing a Grudge by Chris Well

WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?

For twenty-five years, EARL WALKER has been defined by the two worst things that ever happened to him: The death of his beloved wife, and the bullet that ended his career as a metro bus driver. Now bound to a wheelchair, he lives at Candlewick Retirement Center … where he barely knows the neighbors. Not that it matters: Following a failed state inspection, residents have thirty days to get out.

When he’s dragged from his assisted-living apartment to a clandestine spicy hot chili party, he almost has fun … until someone ends up dead. Now Earl seems to be the only one suspicious of the way the partygoer met his demise. Can he solve the puzzle—and figure out his relationship with his new lady friend—before Candlewick is closed down and the suspects move away?

Available as paperback: http://tinyurl.com/c8tfhj6

Buy for Kindle
Buy for other devices

Non-fiction Book Spotlight: Completely Whole

About the Book:

Completely Whole is resource-filled guide full of practical and Biblical-based principles, real-life application strategies and prayers to give the readers a holistic approach to living a life of wholeness through Jesus Christ. This book is inspiring, optimistic, hopeful and encouraging while providing a clear-cut, scriptural blueprint for each reader to follow as they allow the Word and the power of God to transform their pain and restore their lives on their road to becoming Completely Whole.

About the Author:

"Paulette is a wife, mother, grandmother, Bible teacher, radio host, and writer. She has been mentoring and teaching women for years though seminars, workshops and conferences. Paulette’s desire is to empower, influence and cultivate women to move forward while dealing with issues that hinder women from fulfilling their God given purpose. Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, audiences describe Paulette’s presentation as inspiring, enriching and encouraging. She is committed to speaking a message that is always uplifting and edifying.

As a writing coach, she is the visionary behind her own writing ministry called 'Write Now,' a literary program that specializes in coaching aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development, and publication of Christian books. As a member of PFLPublishing, a writing, editing and book marketing business, she serves as the marketing specialist.

Paulette Harper Johnson serves in ministry as an Elder with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton, FL."

Book Trailer:

Want more?

• Learn more about the book and check out a video review on the author's website.

• Buy the book in Kindle or paperback format.
  

Winners!!

Happy Saturday, BB fans! Thanks to everyone who participated in our "puzzling" Friday giveaway! Keep all those facebook and Twitter notifications, coming!

This week's winner is:

Ginger Vaughn - Make Money Writing by Janice Thompson!

Congratulations, Ginger! Please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your email address. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book!

Weekly Drawing

It's fun Friday at The Borrowed Book!

To enter:

Follow Us! Followers are automatically entered. Or...

Leave the time it took you to complete the puzzle in the comments section. Winners will be drawn from ALL of the times, so the person with the fastest time may not be the actual winner, but by leaving your time, you double your chances.

Want another entry? Tweet your puzzle time and mention The Borrowed Book, get another entry. RETWEET our Tweet, get two entries!

Post your puzzle time on BB's Facebook wall and...you guessed it...get another entry!

Post it on your OWN Facebook wall and you could get as many as FIVE entries.

It's all a way to spread the word about the great giveaways on BB. So c'mon! Help us spread the word, and have a little fun at the same time. :-)

This week's puzzle feature is brought to you by Janice Thompson and her newest release, Make Money Writing.

Janice Thompson Interview

I'm delighted to have Janice Thompson at The Borrowed Book today. Janice is an award-winning author who also writes as Janice Hanna. She lives in Spring, Texas with two mischievous dachshunds. She is passionate about her faith and is always willing to share it with those around her. Welcome, Janice. I hear you have a new venture. Can you tell us about it?

Thanks for having me. I’m thrilled to share about my latest book, MAKE MONEY WRITING, which is now available from amazon for kindle users. The book, which is loaded with helpful hints for freelancers was free from March 12^th – March 17^th. Now it’s selling for $4.49.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your writing experience?

Sure! I write under the names “Janice Thompson” and “Janice Hanna.” I just signed contract #79 (For QUEEN OF THE WAVES) and have written in a variety of genres, including romance, historical, contemporary, cozy mystery, juvenile fiction, non-fiction and more. I’m best known for my light-hearted contemporary novels and for my quirky characters. I’m pretty passionate about writing, and even more passionate about helping others discover their writing talents and abilities. For the past seven years I’ve worked as a full-time freelancer, earning my living with my books, teachings, articles, and write-for-hire work.

Why did you decide to write this book?

For several years now I’ve divided my time between freelance writing and teaching. So many aspiring writers discover that I’ve published several books and they come to me to ask the inevitable, “How do I get published?” question, usually followed by, “Is there really money to be made in publishing?” Over the past couple years I’ve put together several freelance writing courses to answer their questions, but I felt the need to do more, so I compiled all of my mini-teachings into one book.

Will readers get all of the same materials they would get in one of your courses?

No, the courses are very specific to their individual topics. MAKE MONEY WRITING covers a variety of areas of interest to the freelance writer, including: earning top dollar, magazine article writing, write-for-hire work, writing the novel and/or non-fiction book, the submission process, succeeding as a freelancer, and more. The book is not a textbook. Instead, it is motivational in tone and focuses on offering encouragement to freelancers and giving them basic tips for success in each of the areas listed above.

Can you tell us a little more about the book?  

Sure! It might make more sense to share some of the chapter titles because they will give you an idea of some of the topics readers will find in the book.

Earning Top Dollar

Jumping the Hurdles

In the Beginning. . .the Writer Set Goals

What Industry Pros are Saying about Goal-Setting

Write. . .for Hire!

Revolutionize Your Writing

Girls Just Wanta Have Funds

Double Your Word Count in Two Weeks

Cash in on Magazine Articles

Sync Up

Freelance Lingo

Stop, Drop and Roll (Adding the Crisis Scene)

From Mii to Wii (learning how to incorporate the “we” factor)

Make ‘Em Laugh

Elevating Your Elevator Pitch

Seven Days to Better Writing

Five Things a Writer can Learn from American Idol

Got Moxie?

Becoming a Public Speaker

Writers are from Mars, Readers are from Venus

. . .and much, much more!

What other projects are you working on?

I’m currently writing QUEEN OF THE WAVES, a novel set aboard the Titanic. Very compelling story, I must say! And I’m tickled about my upcoming release, Wedding Belles.

You mentioned your courses. Can you tell us what’s going on in that world?

Yes, thanks for asking. I’m tickled about the recent release of my Non-Fiction Writing Course. I recorded this course in the studio several months ago and had a blast doing it. I’m convinced this is the most comprehensive package I’ve ever put together. Non-Fiction writers should be able to take this course and find some degree of success building their platform, writing short pieces and fully developing a non-fiction book. There’s even information on how to pitch (and ultimately market) the non-fiction book.

Here are the ten topics within the course:

From Magazines to Books: Building Your Platform

Understanding Non-Fiction Book Types

Best Selling Topics

Compiling Your Information (Braiding the Book)

33 Tips to Strengthen Your Writing

Incorporating Fiction Techniques in Your Non-Fiction

The Submission Process

Making the Sale (Includes all aspects of the contract/sale/edits/production)

Marketing Your Book

How to Stay in the Game

As with all of my courses, this one is available online at www.freelancewritingcourses.com. 

How can readers get the kindle book?

They can follow this link to amazon.

Janice, how can readers reach you?

I love to chat with my readers! To learn more about my books, visit:

www.janicehannathompson.com

To learn more about my writing courses, including my new non-fiction course, visit:

www.freelancewritingcourses.com

Facebook: JaniceHannaThompson

Twitter: booksbyjanice

Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to drop by The Borrowed Book today. We wish you great success with your new venture.

Do you have a question you'd like to ask Janice about her new book? I'm sure she'd be glad to answer it.

Field Trip Feature ~ Winter Park, Colorado

**NOTE: Candice continues to help her daughter recuperate. She will return next week with her blog topic series on poisons. For now, we hope you will enjoy this special Field Trip Feature to Winter Park, Colorado.

Upcoming Release Spotlight: The Discovery by Dan Walsh

Gerard Warner was not only a literary giant whose suspense novels sold in the millions, he was also a man devoted to his family, especially his wife of nearly 60 years. When he dies he leaves his Charleston estate to his grandson, Michael, an aspiring writer himself. Michael settles in to write his own first novel and discovers an unpublished manuscript his grandfather had written, something he'd kept hidden from everyone but clearly intended Michael to find. Michael begins to read an exciting tale about Nazi spies and sabotage, but something about this story is different from all of Gerard Warner's other books. It's actually a love story.


As Michael delves deeper into the story he discovers something that has the power to change not only his future but his past as well. Laced with suspense and intrigue, The Discovery is a richly woven novel that explores the incredible sacrifices that must be made to forge the love of a lifetime.

• Preorder Now:
• FictionFinder
• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble

• Review

  "Thrilling, romantic, and intriguing. In The Discovery, Dan Walsh takes a fascinating sidebar of World War II history and crafts a suspenseful, beautifully written, and deeply satisfying story. This is his best novel yet!"  ―Sarah Sundin, award-winning author of the Wings of Glory series
  
  "My wife Norma and I fell in love with Dan's writing after reading his first two novels...His books grab your heart and don't let go until the last page. I look forward to reading every novel Dan writes." -- Dr. Gary Smalley, Bestselling Author and Speaker on Family Relationships
  
  "You don't often find a novel that appeals to men and women alike--but Walsh delivers one here! Taking you on a scavenger hunt leading to mystery, romance and intrigue, this book-within-a-book will tug at your heart and keep you in suspense." -- Christianbook.com
  
  "The Discovery is a masterful bit of storytelling. It is, above all else, a love story for the ages, one of sacrifice and devotion...As I neared the end of the book I let out a huge sigh...Dan Walsh did it again: He touched my heart." -- New York Journal of Books (John M. Wills)

YA Book Review: Watercrossing

About the Book:

"I let the sharp side of the instrument nick the tender skin at his neck. 'I’m not playing around here,' I threatened.

'I realize that.' He gave a weak grin before his eyes turned serious. 'Let me be honest with you now.

Have you ever considered the idea that your father does not want to be found?'

Summer at Camp Fusion is rapidly coming to a close for Whitnee and her best friends, Morgan and Caleb. Working as mentors for troubled preteens all summer would have been adventurous enough, but discovering a secret portal on the forbidden side of the Frio River turned their idea of reality upside down. Now the three friends are determined to find a way back to the magical White Island in the hopes of recovering Whitnee’s missing father and setting things right once and for all. However, the journey back is complicated—especially since Morgan is hiding a terrible secret and Caleb is looking less like a best friend and more like a potential boyfriend. Whitnee is determined to stay focused this time and not get distracted, especially by a certain someone, but she is completely unprepared the moment she enters again into a deadly game of control on the Island. Can Whitnee navigate her way through the danger and survive the lies that threaten the people she loves?"

Amber's Review:

Dive in, my fellow YA/fantasy fans - the water is fine! Given the chance, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to visit Camp Fusion and the White Island again, and I am here to report with a grateful (albeit slightly impatient!) heart that I got swept back into the continuing adventures of Whitnee, Morgan, Caleb, and all of their friends - and I wish I didn't have to return to the Mainland!

While events came around full circle in Windchaser and Windfall (the first two books in the "Phantom Island" series), Watercrossing wraps up some loose ends and then adds some surprises and different perspectives that marks this as the first of a new chapter in this epic series. The story begins with Gabriel as he deals with the aftermath of his heroic choice to send Whitnee back to Camp Fusion. There's just enough curious dialogue to raise a bunch of questions about the Guardian's self-seeking plot, Gabriel's uncertain future, and the fate of Whitnee's dad...and then the reader is tossed back onto the Mainland, flopping about like a fish desperate for water - or in this case, more of the story.

And the following pages don't disappoint! Whitnee, Morgan, and Caleb burst onto the scene during the weekend of the Fourth of July, on a mission to meet the camper from long ago who had inadvertently visited the White Island - now a grown man living with his mom and with the heartbreaking, mind-shattering truth that everyone thinks he is crazy. Thus begins a new journey full of twists and turns, leaving the reader deliciously uncertain as to what will happen next.

Camp Fusion comes to an end - but it's only one more bend in this fast-paced river of secrets and revelations, tough decisions and flip-flopping emotions, despair and hope. Not to mention that wonderful whirlpool known as "the yum vortex".... Mmmm-hmm, you're just going to have to read the book to find out about that one! *Wink*

Water runs deep in this third installment of the "Phantom Island" series as the characters cross over into new ground in their relationships. Trust will be tested. Romance will be rejuvenated, repressed, and rediscovered. And with a special highlight on Morgan's character, sacrifices and secrets take on a whole new dimension.

Watercrossing is another intriguing and vivid step on this exotic journey, but be forewarned - take this next step and you'll want to be in it for the long haul. After powering through Watercrossing, I'm ready to take a swim in the next "Water" book. I took the bait when I first heard of this series, and now I'm hooked and ready to be reeled in, one delightful addition to the series at a time!

*With special thanks to the author for providing me with a PDF pre-release copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

About the Author:

"Krissi Dallas is the author of Windchaser and Windfall - the first two books in the Phantom Island series. Like her fictional heroine, Krissi is also a gray-eyed Aerodorian from Texas with a ridiculous fish phobia. Krissi teaches junior high Advanced English and enjoys hanging out with her husband, the teens at Fusion Student Ministries, and her two wicked Yorkies. Her life is currently overrun with teenagers and she likes it that way. Join Whitnee's adventures as the Phantom Island drama continues. Visit the author at KrissiDallas.com."

Extras!

• Visit Krissi's website and blog!

• Follow Krissi on Twitter or Facebook!

• Buy Windchaser, the first book in the series, in paperback or Kindle format! (You can read Amber's review of the first book in the series HERE.)
  

• Buy Windfall in paperback or Kindle format! (You can read Amber's review of the second book in the series HERE.)
  

• Look for Watercrossing to be released later this spring!
  

Winners!!

Happy Saturday, BB fans! Thanks to everyone who participated in our "puzzling" Friday giveaway! Keep all those facebook and Twitter notifications, coming!

This week's winner is:

LaTawnia - A Man to Trust by Carrie Turansky!

Congratulations, LaTawnia! Please use the button in the upper right side of this page to email me with your email address. Then, sit back and wait for your book to arrive.

Thank you all so much for stopping by The Borrowed Book!

Weekly Drawing

It's fun Friday at The Borrowed Book, and you have several chances to win. Here's how - instead of leaving a comment, leave the time it took you to complete the puzzle in the comments section. Winners will be drawn from ALL of the times, so the person with the fastest time may not be the actual winner, but by leaving your time, you double your chances.

Want another entry? Tweet your puzzle time and mention The Borrowed Book, get another entry. RETWEET our Tweet, get two entries!

Post your puzzle time on BB's Facebook wall and...you guessed it...get another entry!

Post it on your OWN Facebook wall and you could get as many as FIVE entries.

It's all a way to spread the word about the great giveaways on BB. So c'mon! Help us spread the word, and have a little fun at the same time. :-)

This week's puzzle feature is brought to you by Carrie Turansky and her newest release, A Man to Trust.

Carrie Turansky Interview

I'm delighted to have Carrie Turansky as a guest on The Borrowed Book today. Carrie is the award-winning author of ten novels and novellas. Carrie writes contemporary and historical romance for Barbour and Love Inspired. Her latest releases are A Man To Trust, Surrendered Hearts, and Christmas Mail-Order Brides. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, speaker and counselor. They have five young adult children and three grandchildren. Carrie leads women's ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys gardening, reading, flower arranging, and cooking for friends and family.

Welcome to The Borrowed Book, Carrie. You’ve just had a book to release. Tell us its title and give us a short blurb about it. 

My new novel, A Man To Trust, was released by Love Inspired earlier this month. Here’s a short summary: After years spent helping run her family’s Christian bookstore, it’s time for Adrie Chandler to give her own dream of playing her flute with a symphony a chance. But can she really trust the beloved shop to new manager Ross Peterson? The man is too handsome, too charming and too much a reminder of another dream Adrie had to let go of – marriage. Yet Ross surprises her by knowing a thing or two about making sacrifices. Suddenly, Adrie is questioning what she really wants. And whether the dreams she once thought unlikely are within reach after all.

When the book opens, your heroine is lamenting that she’s having birthday cake instead of wedding cake. What happened in Adrie’s life to cause this?

The day the book opens is Adrie’s grandmother’s birthday, and it was supposed to be her wedding day, but five months earlier she found out her fiancé was involved with one of her friends, and she broke the engagement. This betrayal and heartbreak makes it very hard for Adrie to trust any man, especially Ross who seems so easygoing and likeable and looks a little like her former fiancé.  

Then Ross Peterson walks in. Tell us about this handsome young man who enters Adie’s life.

Ross first appeared in my novel, Seeking His Love, as the best friend of the hero, Cam McKenna. Ross is a photographer who had his own studio at the Arts Center in Fairhaven. But because of the downturn in the economy, he had to close his studio and look for another job. Cam introduces him to Adrie and her grandmother, Marian, who owns Bayside Books and recommends him for the position of manager. He’s immediately attracted to Adrie and has to patiently pursue her to win her heart.

A Man to Trust is the second book in your Bayside Treasures Series. I love the idea of who the Bayside Treasures are and what their mission is. Tell us about Marian, Hannah, Irene, and Barb.

These senior-age women have been friends for years and are as close as sisters. The get together every week at Bayside Books to play Scrabble and discuss matchmaking plans for their younger friends and relatives. They’re also wonderful prayer warriors who faithfully encourage each other and everyone they meet.

How did you come to use Fairhaven, the historic section of Bellingham, Washington, as your setting?

An editor encouraged me to find a setting with a name that reflected the heroine’s journey in the first book in this series, Seeking His Love. I’m originally from Oregon, and I wanted to set the series in the Northwest. So I went online and looked through a list of the names of towns in Washington and Oregon. When I saw the name Fairhaven, I thought that would be a great place for the heroine to go to try and build a new life, a place where she would feel safe and be able to leave her past mistakes behind. When I researched the town online, I found a storehouse of information posted by the Old Fairhaven Association to encourage people to visit their town. It’s a delightful place, and I’ve enjoyed including many actual streets, parks, restaurants and other businesses as well as community events in my books.

When will the third book in the series release and what is it about?

The third book set in Fairhaven is Snowflake Sweethearts. It will release in late November 2012, and is a sweet holiday romance. The Bayside Treasure friends are back, working on their matchmaking plans. This time they hope to match Irene’s grandson Alex with Annie, a young single mother with a five year-old daughter who is a personal chef.

What do you want readers to take away after reading A Man to Trust?

I hope they will have an uplifting, romantic and hope-filled break from their daily lives. I hope they’ll be touched by what Ross and Adrie learn about the value of friendship, the importance of prayer and seeking God for all the decisions about the future and how to use their gifts and talents. I hope they’ll close the last page and wish the story would continue.

Many people today find it hard to trust others. What words of encouragement would you give to those who are struggling with this problem?

It’s hard to trust when you’ve been hurt like Adrie was in this story.  I’d encourage readers to look back and see what pain or unresolved issues might be causing these struggles with trust. Talking to a trusted friend or counselor can help you work through the forgiving process and then help you sort out the lessons you can learn from the situation. Then you can begin to move forward with God’s grace and discernment. Some people are not safe, and they should not be trusted. We have to protect ourselves from people who would abuse or continually hurt us. A wise counselor or pastor can help you with this. Learning to trust God and realize He loves us and has great compassion toward us is also a wonderful help.

Thanks for inviting me over today! I love to connect with readers at Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and at my website. 

Thanks for being our guest today. We'll be looking for the next release in the Bayside Treasures Series.

Write Right ~ Cholera Infantum and Pepto-Bismol®

My apologies for missing last week’s blog. My daughter, who lives in San Diego, was in a motorcycle accident. When the bike fell, her left hand was caught under the handle. Among other things, the ring finger on her left hand was scraped down to the tendon. (I immediately booked a plane ticket to California, thankful the accident hadn’t been worse.)

What does this have to do with The Borrowed Book blog? A couple of things. I’m still in San Diego, away from my research books. I’m also busy taking care of things for my daughter who can’t use her left hand. That means I can’t write the article I’d intended. But I can share a couple of interesting things with you.

Two weeks ago I told you the story of baby Mabel, the sister my grandmother never knew. Mabel most likely died from a disease called cholera infantum, which isn’t related to cholera at all, although the symptoms are similar. I had planned to explore this disease in more depth—especially some of the treatments that were used at the time—but I haven’t had the time. However, here’s a tidbit that I discovered during my research.

You know that thick, pink concoction we use to soothe our upset tummies called Pepto-Bismol®? A recent television commercial for the product ended with, “Pink does more than you think!” That could be changed to, “Pink is more historical than you think.”

In the late 1800s, a doctor from New York developed the original formula to cure (none other than) cholera infantum. The original ingredients were pepsin, zinc salts, salol*, and oil of wintergreen. He colored it pink and called it Mixture Cholera Infantum. The formula has changed since then, as has the name and manufacturer. You can read more about the history here:  http://www.pepto-bismol.com/about-history.php .

I don’t know if the old Pepto-Bismol® cured cholera infantum, but I do know if Mabel had been born one hundred years later, she probably would have lived. In fact, I doubt she would have contracted the disease at all. And one hundred years ago (according to the plastic surgeon who operated on my daughter’s hand) an injury like the one she received would have meant the loss of the use of her finger. (There was no flesh over the tendon for skin to grow on, so the tendon would have hardened and stopped working.) Imagine farmers or sailors working with thick rope. . .

I’m grateful for a merciful God who has given us the medical knowledge we have today. And I'm grateful that my daughter wasn't hurt more severely. 

*Salol, also known as phenyl salicylate, is a chemical substance introduced in 1886 by Marceli Nencki of Basel. It was created by heating salicylic acid with phenol, which forms a white powder that supposedly tastes pleasant. It has been used to absorb light in sun tan lotions and plastic, a preservative, an antiseptic, and a coating for pills. Salol supposedly had an antibacterial effect in the small intestine. It’s also used in lab demonstrations to show how cooling rates affect crystal size in igneous rocks. Based on its chemical name (phenyl salicylate), it must also be related to Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), but I don't exactly know how. Wow. Talk about versatility.

Upcoming Release Spotlight: Race Against Time by Christy Barritt

Were it not for her cop neighbor, widowed mother Madison Jacobs would be dead. Thankfully, Detective Brody Philips interrupts an attempt on her life in the nick of time. But the would-be killer hasn't given up, and each tick of the clock brings the madman closer to finishing what he started. Brady vows to catch the serial killer plaguing the sleepy Virginia town…especially when he realizes the danger has followed him from the big city. With everyone around him at risk, it'll take everything Brody's got to do his duty and keep Madison and her son safe.

• Preorder Now:
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• Publisher: Love Inspired (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373444869
• ISBN-13: 978-0373444861
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches