Is where we introduce listeners to people who have found their way out of the dark shadows of life and back to light and those who lead others on their journey from darkness to light.
STEP INTO THE LIGHT
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Patti’s Blogs; Patti’s Porch & The Over Fifty Writer; Podcast Step Into the Light
Meet seasoned authors, learn about new books and find inspiration to help you along your journey. No matter how far you’ve come or where you are going, I’d be honored to travel with you. If you like what you see, please subscribe to avoid missing updates.
WELCOME AUTHOR REGINA RUDD MERRICK 2/16/2019 11:55:00 AM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK: Carolina Grace
AUTHOR: Regina Rudd Merrick
PUBLISHER:Mantle Rock Publishing
GENRE:Contemporary romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE:Southern Breeze Series, book 3
TARGET AGE:adults 16+
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR REGINA RUDD MERRIK TO PATTI’S PORCH. REGINA SHARES THOUGHTS ON FRIENDSHIP AND WHAT A FRIEND A KEEPER.
REGINA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF CAROLINA GRACE.
UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHPS
by
Regina Rudd Merrick
In my book, Carolina Grace, Charly Livingston’s best friend is Lydia, who she met in high school. They were inseparable. They even decide to leave the nest and become roommates. Here’s a snippet from a deep conversation between the two:
Lydia was power in a small package.
Charly laughed through her sniffles. “You sound like Lucy. Tell me how you really feel.”
“Always. That’s what best friends do, and Lucy is my role model, you know.” Lydia winked at her.
“I know. Honestly, this is not something I ever expected to happen.”
Lydia nodded sagely. “Because up to now you’ve never dated someone who isn’t a Christian.”
Her statement hit hard. All those times, as a teen, when she considered dating someone, this was the number one criteria. Was he a Christian? Now, she was letting her guard down, and she wondered if this was a type of punishment. Was she settling for less than God’s best for her life?
Charly stared at Lydia. “Then I guess I’d better start praying, hadn’t I?”
“And I’ll pray too. And while we’re at it, let’s pray me up a guy, okay?”
“Gotcha.”
Lydia is that friend who will tell Charly the truth, and will support her no matter what. I like to think that everyone has a friend like that. You know, the one that it doesn’t matter if you’ve hit a dry spell and don’t seem to be nurturing the relationship, they will come to you and give you a big hug and say, “we need to get together – soon.”
Those are the keepers. I’ve had a few of those in my life. I patterned Lydia, and Lucy, who was in my first two books and is very active in this one, after one particular friend, although she is one of the sister-friends that I have now, that I never knew existed when I was in high school. And you know, we might not have been friends, then, though I like to think we would have. We became friends through church and motherhood, and we have mothered all four of our girls until they are like cousins instead of friends.
She’s the friend that inspires me to TRY. TO KEEP GOING. To go out of my comfort zone. She asks the deep, unexpected questions and makes me laugh at the same time. Find a friend who is a keeper – and KEEP HER.
Back-Cover Copy for Carolina Grace
She knows about God’s grace for her life, but pushes it away. He hasn’t experienced it, but finds grace in a way he never expected.
First-year Special Education teacher Charly Livingston demonstrates God’s love on the outside, but is resentful that God allowed back-to-back tragedies to happen to her family.
Rance Beaumont is a top-notch medical intern. He’s on his way to the top, and when he meets Charly, he knows things can only get better. When he discovers family secrets and a dying father he never knew, his easy life seems to disintegrate.
Even in the idyllic ocean breezes and South Carolina sunshine, contentment can quickly turn to bitterness and confusion except for God’s amazing grace.
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A COPY OF CAROLINA GRACE BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH AT MIDNIGHT MST.
BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.
Regina Rudd Merrick began reading romance and thinking of book ideas as early as her teenage years when she attempted a happily-ever-after sequel to Gone With the Wind. That love of fiction parlayed into a career as a librarian, and finally to writing full-time. She began attending local writing workshops and continued to hone her craft by writing several short and novel-length fan-fiction pieces published online, where she met other authors with a similar love for story, a Christian worldview, and happily-ever-after. Married for 30+ years and active in their church in Marion, KY, Regina and her husband have two grown daughters who share her love of music, writing, and the arts. She is the author of three books: Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017), Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and Carolina Grace (Feb 2019) in the Southern Breeze Series. Connect with Regina online:
WHEN IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE RUN AGROUND 2/13/2019 1:05:00 AM BY Patti Shene
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR SANDY KIRBY QUANDT TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. SANDY SHARES A DEVOTIONAL ON THE STRUGGLES AND STORMS OF LIFE.
WHEN IT FEELS LIKE WE’VE RUN AGROUND
by
Sandy Kirby Quandt
A devotion I recently read in Streams in the Desert said, "You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings."
The devotion stated God gives us promises then steps back, allows the Tempter to come with a test that seems to contradict everything God promised, and God waits to see how much we believe.
Referencing the Apostle Paul's shipwreck as a prisoner on his way to Rome, the short devotion ended with this statement. "This is the time to look up through the storm, and among the trembling, frightened sailors declare, 'I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.'" (Acts 27:25)
Not being satisfied with relying on my memory of this episode near the end of Paul's life, I went to Acts chapters 27 and 28. As an over-50 author waiting for God to open the doors for my novel’s publication, the verses in these chapters reminded me of several things I'd like to share with you. Perhaps these words will be meaningful to you as well.
When we go through the struggles and storms of life, our faith tells us one way or the other we'll get to the other side. Nevertheless, like Paul, before we get on the other side, we'll probably run aground onsome island. (Acts 27:25-26)
God knows where we're going to run aground. He knows when and how it will happen. He knows the outcome and how beat up, bruised, and broken we'll be when we reach it. God also knows when we give thanks to him in the midst of our storms, we'll be strengthened to keep on keeping on until the storm ends. (Acts 27:33-36)
After that, daylight comes.
BUT before we reach the calm bay in the distance, we hit a sandbar which destroys our ship. (Acts 27:39-41)
Jumping into the waves and grabbing onto the ship's broken planks that float by, we finally reach the shore. (Acts 27:44)
Only to be bitten by a viper while gathering firewood. (Acts 28:3)
Seriously?
Onlookers gather around and speculate about what we must have done to displease God so much to deserve all we've endured. They wait for us to die from the viper's venom.
But.
We don't.
Instead, the viper is thrown into the fire and dies. (Acts 28:4-6)
The best part of all?
God sends encouragers alongside to strengthen us for the next go 'round. Until such a time as He allows the Tempter to show up again and we face life's storms once more. (Acts 28:15)
Whether we are in a season of needing to be encouraged, or a season where we are called to be an encourager, whenever we hit a sandbar and run aground, our Mighty Father is right there with us helping us make it safely to shore.
That sandbar may be unfulfilled dreams. Health issues. Family problems. Financial worries. Fill in your own sandbar. No matter. Because nothing reaches us God did not plan or permit, we can take courage and believe it will be just as he said. (Acts 27:25)
I wish you well.
Sandy
Sandy Kirby Quandt is an inspirational writer with a passion for God, history and travel; passions that often weave their way into her stories and articles. Writer of numerous articles and stories for adult and children publications, Sandy has won several awards for her writing including the 85th and 86th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, First Place in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Children’s Literature 2016 Foundation Awards, and First Place in the 2017 Foundation Awards in the Young Adult, Middle Grade and Flash Fiction categories. Looking for words of encouragement or gluten-free recipes? Then check out Sandy’s blog, Woven and Spun. You can also find Sandy at twitter.com/SandyKQuandt
WELCOME AUTHOR JUNE McCRARY JACOBS 2/9/2019 1:40:00 AM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK: Handmade Hearts(a short story)
AUTHOR: June McCrary Jacobs
PUBLISHER: JMJ Story Stitcher Books
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand-alone short story
TARGET AGE: Young Adult & Adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR JUNE McCRARY JACOBS TO PATTI’S PORCH. JUNE SHARES THE TRUE STORY BEHIND HER WORLD WAR II HISTORCAL ROMANTIC SHORT STORY BASED ON REAL LIFE EVENTS.
JUNE IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR A DIGITAL COPY OF HANDMADE HEARTS.
TRUTH OR FICTION?
by
June McCrary Jacobs
My latest release, an historical World War II romance short story, Handmade Hearts, is based on a true story. As a history buff and fan of historical fiction for decades, people are surprised to learn this is my first release in the historical genre. My previous two books, A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossomand Robin's Reward, are both contemporary inspirational romance stories. So why did I choose to change genres to write about the past?
First and foremost, I wrote this story as a tribute to my aunt and uncle's beautiful relationship of over sixty years. They had a special bond and were visibly in love with each other until their last days together.
My uncle and aunt lived in Mississippi while I live in California. Cards and letters passed between us for years, but my favorite way of communicating with my uncle was over the phone. He was a witty, interesting, 'plain as dirt' man who was open to sharing his life experiences and opinions with me. We talked about many different topics—current events, golf, fishing, football, cars, NASCAR racing, books, his military service, my sewing and quilting, my teaching career—the list goes on and on.
One day a few months before my aunt passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, I asked my uncle how the two of them met. I knew they had met during World War II, but that was all I knew about the start of their romance.
My uncle cleared his throat and smiled. I could always tell when he was smiling on the other end of the phone by the way the tone of his voice changed. And whenever he spoke of my aunt, his voice really changed because he was smiling so broadly.
He told me he was still on crutches from his war injuries sustained in the South Pacific as a young Marine. The local church was having a social for the young adults in their neighborhood in New Orleans, and my uncle decided he would give it a try. He was tired of being cooped up in his room feeling sorry for himself. It had taken him months to recover from his multiple injuries, and he hadn't really gone out socially since before he enlisted in the Marines.
He walked over to the church and struggled up the front stairs to enter the fellowship hall. There were a lot of people milling around, and somehow he connected with my aunt. That was it for him, he told me. She was so special and so pretty, he was hooked.
When I decided to write Handmade Hearts several years later, they were both deceased. Therefore, I used a lot of my very active imagination to write about my aunt's background, how their relationship progressed, and where they might have gone on dates back in New Orleans in 1944 and 1945 because I didn't know the specific details from my brief conversation with my uncle.
The elements of the story besides how my aunt and uncle actually met which are based on fact include my uncle's family background, his military service record and wounds, and the military service of his two older brothers. I performed a good amount of research on what movies were released during the time of the story and what types of gifts a gentleman was likely to give a lady friend in the south—little details which enrich a reader's enjoyment of a story.
I enjoyed writing historical fiction so much that I am releasing my debut middle-grade historical novel,RES-Q Tyler Stop, later this spring. This book for children is set in 1968 in Northern California and involves the Gregg family and their eleven-year old son Weston's adventures in rescuing injured and unwanted animals along with difficult lessons learned at the hand of a bully. I performed hours of research for this full-length novel to gain an authentic perspective for what was going on in Northern California at that time and what challenges Weston and the others in his small town may have encountered during that era.
So while Handmade Hearts is historical fiction inspired by true individuals and a true event, RES-Q Tyler Stop is historical fiction occurring in a fictional town with fictional characters but with an authentic backdrop of Northern California in the late 1960s. Either way I look at it, I am blessed to be able to share my writing with the world.
Many thanks to Patti for allowing me to share Handmade Hearts and this guest post with you here on Patti's Porch.
Book blurb for Handmade Hearts
Handmade Hearts is an historical romance short story set in New Orleans during World War II and was inspired by a true story.
Toward the end of his life, the author asked her Uncle 'Allen' how he met his wife. He shared about how he met 'Irene' at a church social in their neighborhood in New Orleans in the early 1940s. He had been seriously wounded in Guadalcanal in the South Pacific as a young Marine and was using crutches to get around as best he could.
He had many inner wounds which needed time to heal, too. He had no way of knowing when they first met that Irene had suffered her own wartime tragedy. She bravely sought to keep her grief locked away deep inside because thinking about her loss caused her even more sorrow. She needed to be strong because she was the breadwinner for her small family.
Times were tough, but these two unique individuals made it through each day with inner fortitude, determination, and the sincere hope of something greater just over the horizon.
HANDMADE HEARTS – EXCERPT
New Orleans, Louisiana
October 20, 1944
Allen wrestled with his heavy wooden crutches. Each step was agonizing. He grimaced as he labored up the stairs of the church's fellowship hall proudly wearing his uniform—a uniform he’d dreamed of wearing since learning of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
In addition to the almost intolerable and constant pain, the three bullet wounds received from a sniper in Guadalcanal two months ago had wreaked havoc with his plans for his life. Well, at least I still have a life . . .
Dozens of his fellow Marines had not made it out of Guadalcanal alive on that horrendous, life-altering night. Allen felt himself slipping into the abyss of traumatic memories once again. The vivid memories that plagued him daily flashed in front of his eyes. His pulse quickened, and his heart pounded loudly in his ears. He felt clammy and nauseous, and both legs began to tremble.
A woman's melodic voice roused him from his memories of the ambush.
"Good evening, Lance Corporal. May I hold the door for you?"
Allen wondered how long she had been speaking to him before her voice drifted through to his subconscious. He blinked as the details of her face came into focus.
"Uh, what? Yes, I guess you'd better," Allen snapped.
When he recognized the hurt expression on her face, he turned toward her.
"Sorry if I sounded gruff. I just feel so helpless being dependent on these blasted crutches!"
"No need to apologize or explain," she answered in a soothing voice. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Irene Carston."
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A DIGITAL COPY OF HANDMADE HEARTS BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AT MIDNIGHT MST.
BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.
June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing's 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom. Robin's Reward, her first full-length novel, was set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region.
June's debut middle-grade novel, RES-Q Tyler Stop, an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, will be released in the spring of 2019.
June's original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs. June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.
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FEATURED BOOK: Carolina Grace
AUTHOR: Regina Rudd Merrick
PUBLISHER: Mantle Rock Publishing
GENRE: Contemporary romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Southern Breeze Series, book 3
TARGET AGE: adults 16+
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR REGINA RUDD MERRIK TO PATTI’S PORCH. REGINA SHARES THOUGHTS ON FRIENDSHIP AND WHAT A FRIEND A KEEPER.
REGINA IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF CAROLINA GRACE.
UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHPS
by
Regina Rudd Merrick
In my book, Carolina Grace, Charly Livingston’s best friend is Lydia, who she met in high school. They were inseparable. They even decide to leave the nest and become roommates. Here’s a snippet from a deep conversation between the two:
Lydia was power in a small package.
Charly laughed through her sniffles. “You sound like Lucy. Tell me how you really feel.”
“Always. That’s what best friends do, and Lucy is my role model, you know.” Lydia winked at her.
“I know. Honestly, this is not something I ever expected to happen.”
Lydia nodded sagely. “Because up to now you’ve never dated someone who isn’t a Christian.”
Her statement hit hard. All those times, as a teen, when she considered dating someone, this was the number one criteria. Was he a Christian? Now, she was letting her guard down, and she wondered if this was a type of punishment. Was she settling for less than God’s best for her life?
Charly stared at Lydia. “Then I guess I’d better start praying, hadn’t I?”
“And I’ll pray too. And while we’re at it, let’s pray me up a guy, okay?”
“Gotcha.”
Lydia is that friend who will tell Charly the truth, and will support her no matter what. I like to think that everyone has a friend like that. You know, the one that it doesn’t matter if you’ve hit a dry spell and don’t seem to be nurturing the relationship, they will come to you and give you a big hug and say, “we need to get together – soon.”
Those are the keepers. I’ve had a few of those in my life. I patterned Lydia, and Lucy, who was in my first two books and is very active in this one, after one particular friend, although she is one of the sister-friends that I have now, that I never knew existed when I was in high school. And you know, we might not have been friends, then, though I like to think we would have. We became friends through church and motherhood, and we have mothered all four of our girls until they are like cousins instead of friends.
She’s the friend that inspires me to TRY. TO KEEP GOING. To go out of my comfort zone. She asks the deep, unexpected questions and makes me laugh at the same time. Find a friend who is a keeper – and KEEP HER.
Back-Cover Copy for Carolina Grace
She knows about God’s grace for her life, but pushes it away. He hasn’t experienced it, but finds grace in a way he never expected.
First-year Special Education teacher Charly Livingston demonstrates God’s love on the outside, but is resentful that God allowed back-to-back tragedies to happen to her family.
Rance Beaumont is a top-notch medical intern. He’s on his way to the top, and when he meets Charly, he knows things can only get better. When he discovers family secrets and a dying father he never knew, his easy life seems to disintegrate.
Even in the idyllic ocean breezes and South Carolina sunshine, contentment can quickly turn to bitterness and confusion except for God’s amazing grace.
Buy Link
DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A COPY OF CAROLINA GRACE BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH AT MIDNIGHT MST.
BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.
Regina Rudd Merrick began reading romance and thinking of book ideas as early as her teenage years when she attempted a happily-ever-after sequel to Gone With the Wind. That love of fiction parlayed into a career as a librarian, and finally to writing full-time. She began attending local writing workshops and continued to hone her craft by writing several short and novel-length fan-fiction pieces published online, where she met other authors with a similar love for story, a Christian worldview, and happily-ever-after. Married for 30+ years and active in their church in Marion, KY, Regina and her husband have two grown daughters who share her love of music, writing, and the arts. She is the author of three books: Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017), Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and Carolina Grace (Feb 2019) in the Southern Breeze Series. Connect with Regina online:
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