Peering Through Life's Window

I've been excited about Hair Calamities and Hot Cash since the day I planned to write it. It's inspired by my mother's beauty shop, set in the awe-inspiring North Carolina Mountains. Mother's shop was at the foothills of these magnificent peaks, but I placed the fictitious shop, Eve's Clips, at a higher elevation to allow for the breathtaking scenery. Yet, it was the atmosphere my mother created and the people who frequented the shop that motivated me to write about them. Getting a "do" at her salon served as a social gathering as well as a service. Customers who knew each other discussed how to make the latest recipe, what to do about world affairs and everything in between, including family relations, births, deaths and weddings. Clients planned showers, graduation parties and get-togethers for new neighbors while hair flew. Mostly townspeople showed up, and the spirit of the community overflowed. The residents had close friends, acquai

Hats...Horns... Congratulations, Finbar! To claim your e-Book email donna@livebytheword.com

A Warm Welcome to Donna Schlachter Donna will give away an e-Book of Double Jeopardy . To enter to win leave a comment and an email address below. Hi Donna, first, tell us a little about yourself.  I live in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, I write historical suspense under my own name, and contemporary suspense under my alter ego of Leeann Betts. I’ve been published more than 30 times in novellas and full-length novels. I am a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, and Christian Authors Network; facilitate a critique group; and teach writing classes online and in person. I also ghostwrite, edit, and judge in writing contests. I love history and research, and travel extensively for both. I am represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management. Were you an avid reader as a child? Is so, what did you read? I was an avid reader. I’m the kid who rode her bike ten miles to the library, checked out ten books

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website . Contemporary Romance: A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount -- After an embarrassing failure, a prodigal retreats to a secluded cabin in backwoods Missouri where he encounters an intriguing young woman and an old guitar. When the message in the music touches his heart, will he make it home in time for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired (Harlequin)) Star Rising by Janet W. Ferguson -- Star Youngblood tries to protect her employer, Mrs. Priscilla Kelly, from the woman’s neglectful son, an aspiring flight instructor who has issues with religion, but finds her own heart is at the greatest risk. (Contemporary Romanc, Independently Published) A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague -- Savannah, a widowed research librarian, goes to her twenty year class reunion and gets reacquainted with Michael, a former troublemaker who is now a professional technical rescuer. Be

Christ Is Born "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger. (Luke 2:  11-14) He Grows Up And Preaches A Gospel of Love Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22: 37 - 38) Christ Dies On The Cross To Free Us From Our Sins "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." (Luke 24: 7) He Rises And He Lives Today "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  (I Corinthians 15: 55)  Merry Christmas! A picture of my hometown, Forest City, North Carolina, from a painting by Daniel Robbins. Angel photo courtesy Google. Christ

A Warm Welcome to Andrea Chatelaine Andrea Brings Us A Book For Holidays And A Devotional for New Year's Intentional Holidays: 30 Days of Rest and Rejoicing This holiday season, God invites us to slow down our hustle, to trade striving and performing for resting and rejoicing. In our Photoshopped, Instagram, hyper-publicized culture, it feels like the bar is always rising. Not only must we create that memorable Thanksgiving meal, but it also must look Pinterest-worthy when we’re done! But Immanuel—God with us—is indeed with us in the middle of our dinner fails and celebrations.This holiday season, each morning, no matter how busy our day or frazzled our heart, God is drawing us near so that we can live filled. We can experience peace in the middle of our crazy through the Prince of Peace, our Savior, Immanuel. Buy on  Amazon Resolutions Vs. Transformation By Andrea Chatelain As we count down to the New Year, our minds rev up with possible resolutions

A Warm Welcome To Penelope Marzec Hi Penelope, Thank you for sharing your special recipe and the story behind it as well as nourishing our souls with your mother's favorite Bible verse! The Best Cook’s Special Recipe—Cream Puffs One of the best cooks I ever knew was my mother. The daughter of a coal miner, she never served small portions of anything, probably because she came from a family with seven children. She was the second oldest and after her there were five boys. Mom married Dad in 1947. My brother was born the following year. Then came me. Next came Christine, who died shortly after birth. A few years later I had a new sister, and another one came several years after that. My little mother had her hands full caring for children. She often quoted her favorite Biblical verse from 1 Timothy 2:15, “But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” I think it was her way of reminding her