How to Win Books And Influence People

Would YOU like to be an Influencer?

My upcoming book, Like There’s No Tomorrow, releases in print and eBook at the end of September from Ashberry Lane Publishing. Authors and their publishers love to find “influential” people who like our book and who can help spread the good word.

Would YOU like a tender, heart-tugging love story sprinkled with a wee bit of humor about two quirky old Scottish sisters bent on reuniting, and their young pen-pals who fall in love even though her family secret could break his heart—again? 

Like There's No Tomorrow is a tale of family, falling in love, faith, fiery furnaces, and the gift of each new day. If you like books by Deborah Raney, Karen Kingsbury, Debbie Macomber, Susan Meissner, Denise Hunter, Robin Jones Gunn, Sandra D. Bricker, Susan May Warren, or Rachel Hauck, you might like this book.

An influencer would receive a copy of the book, then read it and use one or more (or all) of the methods suggested at the end of this post for sharing the book with the people in your reach. 

Are you interested in being an influencer for Like There's No Tomorrow? Please answer the following questions:

1. Do you have a blog or website?
2. Are you a reader who likes to review books?
3. If you have never written a review, are you willing to read a dozen or more online reviews to get a feel for what makes a helpful book review?

If you can answer “Yes!” to one or more of these, leave a comment below (with a link to your blog/website if you have one) and how you would like to be contacted with details. (Please note: number of influencer copies and time-frame is limited, copies assigned at author's discretion.)

How to be an Influencer: 8 Ways To Help Your Favorite Author (from Rachelle Gardner’s Blog)

1. Amazon reviews. If you have positive things to say about a book, go ahead and say them! Don’t be false; don’t rave about a book you don’t really like. But write a good review if you can. Reviews are a powerful tool on Amazon that can make a big difference in an author’s sales. (Camille’s Amazon Page)

Check out the rest of these 8 Book Influencer Tips from Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner.

The Writing Process Blog Tour Continues...

Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a writer? Fellow author and fabulous friend Carla Stewart “tagged” me last week in the Writing Process blog tour, so I’m up next to share about my “Writing Process.” Next week, the tour continues with authors Patty Smith Hall and Jennifer Anne Messing.

My Writing Process 

1. What are you working on?
First off, SUPER BIG NEWS, more on that in a minute. I have completed three full length novels and am currently pondering what to do for a 4^th. I might resume work on a story I began for NaNoWriMo a few years ago – one with a couple quirky characters who won’t leave me alone. I LOVE quirky folk, especially older ones. This story includes an earthy Gram who rescues spiders by hand and makes tea from things she finds growing in the forest, a kind-hearted cop, a sweet little boy, a young woman who keeps a terrible secret out of love and desperation, and an unfortunate accident that threatens to expose her. We'll see where that story leads...

2. How does your work differ from others of its genre? 
I write "Faith-Inspiring Love Stories," but is not what you would call category romance. It fits more into a genre called "Romantic Women’s Fiction." Inspirational authors whose work most resembles mine in genre might be Deborah Raney, Susan Meissner, Jamie Langston Turner, and perhaps Charles Martin, although I blush to tack my name onto this bunch of literary greats. My work is neither purely romance nor straight women’s fiction but is usually a strong blend of both—equal parts love story AND heart-tugging relational drama woven around a journey of faith. I really enjoy stories with a solid thread of all three. Life is such a twisted blend of the things that move us, right? Novels ought to be just as twisted. J

3. Why do you write what you do?
See #2. J Actually, I am intrigued by what fears, loves, wounds, doubts, and longings drive people, and the courage, faith, and self-sacrifice it takes to overcome obstacles. I like to pose writer’s cue of "What If?" and then hold my breath along with the reader to find out. For example: What if you had a terrible secret you needed to take to your grave, but a brain injury causes your closest confidante to lose her ability to keep quiet? What happens when bad boy tries to reform a good girl? What if a widower’s broken heart is healed and he falls in love only to find she might not have long to live? What if the one thing you fear is the one thing you are forced to trust?

4. How does your writing process work?
By the sheer grace of God! It somehow gets done in spite of me. In my writing cave, there is much plotting and planning and coaxing the Muse, but there’s also far too much staring and re-tweaking the same lines. There are equal parts inspiration, revising, moping, asking for feedback, more revising, more moping, and then usually as a last resort: gut-wrenching prayer involving laying the whole mess at God’s feet and asking him to guide it, make it his story, make it harmonize with his song, bring it to life by his heartbeat.



SUPER BIG NEWS . . .

I am *ECSTATIC* to announce that I just signed a two-book contract with Ashberry Lane Publishing! My first full-length novel, Like There’s No Tomorrow, is set to release September 2014, and Sandcastles In Snow will release in 2015. Details at www.camilleeide.com
Also: Sign up for book release news & updates at www.ashberrylane.com

And NOW . . . . Be sure to follow the Writing Process Tour on June 30 with:

Author Patty Smith Hall

Patty first found publishing success with her short stories in the God Allows U-Turns series as well as Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul; a Second Dose and Guidepost magazine. Her debut novel, Hearts in Flight, won the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis Award in historical romance and was picked by Publisher’s Weekly as a top inspirational read for the 2011 spring and summer season.

Patty lives with her husband of 28 years in suburban Atlanta and finds her greatest joy in spending time with her family and friends.

Learn more about Patty at http://www.pattysmithhall.com

Author Jennifer Anne Messing of Portland, Oregon—who was originally from Manila, Philippines—is an award-winning author and poet, online columnist, speaker, and a wife and mother of three children who has a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and a diploma in Journalism and Short-Story Writing. A past president of the Oregon Christian Writers, Jennifer Anne has over 200 articles, short stories and poems published in 60 magazines. Her latest book, Morning's Promise: Poetic Moments in His Presence (Ellechor Publishing, 2012), was honored as a TOP FINALIST in the “Poetry: Inspirational” category of the 2013 International Book Awards, sponsored by USA Best Books. Her next book, a collection of short fiction entitled, Everlasting Love: Romantic Vignettes for a Woman's Heart will release from Mockingbird Lane Press (print and ebook) in the summer of 2014.

Visit her website at: www.JenniferAnneMessing.com

Camille Signs 2-Book Contract!

I am thrilled to announce that I just signed a two-book contract with Ashberry Lane Publishing!! My first full-length novel, Like There’s No Tomorrow, comes out in print & eBook this September! The second book, Sandcastles in Snow, will release sometime in 2015.

Ashberry Lane is a small but bright new star in traditional publishing and I’m extremely thrilled to be working with such a fun, super-savvy, God-honoring team! Look for quality Heartfelt Tales of Faith from Ashberry Lane & sign up for their (& my) book release news at www.ashberrylane.com.

If you would like to receive news, updates, & SPECIAL offers from me, please join my mailing list at http://www.camilleeide.com/contact.html

Like There’s No Tomorrow is a sweet, faith inspiring love story about two quirky old Scottish sisters bent on reuniting, and their young co-correspondents who fall in love even though her family secret could break his heart—again.

If you’d like to help spread the word, I will have a "mini press kit” available to make it super easy for friends & readers to grab "ready-to-go" tweets, FB blurbs, and other fun stuff. If you are a blogger and would like a guest post or fun Q&A about the book, let me know.

Also, if you or a friend would like an "influencer" copy to review & talk up among friends and followers, I will have copies available for that.

Let me know if you would like a press kit, a book to review, or both.

Traces of Mercy, A Novel, by Michael Landon Jr and Cindy Kelley

Though I am not typically a reader of historical fiction, Traces of Mercy grabbed me from the first page and kept me intrigued to the last (and beyond). Familiar with their previous work on the Janette Oke "Love Comes Softly" films, and because of their work on Hallmark Channel’s phenomenal new TV series "When Calls The Heart," I expected a book by Michael Landon Jr and Cindy Kelley to be a heart-tugging, faith-friendly drama full of compelling characters. I was not disappointed.

Traces of Mercy begins with a gripping scene that sets a tone for the rest of the book—one of faith, love, fierce loyalty, riveting conflict, and one of the most breathtaking displays of mercy I’ve ever seen or read.

A beginning full of twists soon delivers an intriguing heroine who can’t remember who she is. Between wanting to know why she was found wearing men’s clothing, and hoping her mysterious past would not to interfere with her new-found joy, Mercy’s finds herself living her own personal “Civil War.” She must discover her identity and past without the help of memories, a name, or anyone who knows her. But with time, Mercy isn’t sure she wants to know who she was. 

This well-written story flows like an action/adventure/romance film filled with a cast of well-rounded, compelling characters including a wise, big-hearted nun and a fiercely loyal servant boy.

Set against the backdrop of post-Civil War St. Louis, we feel the aftermath and sad irony that a “civilized society just came through a bloody war [simply] because a way of life was threatened.” The lingering national unrest and mistrust sets the background for this story as Mercy seeks the answers she needs and the love she dares to hope for.

This heart-tugging story is part of an ongoing story, the first in a series. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the Mercy Medallion series!

~Camille

Twitter: @CamilleEide

Facebook: www.facebook.com/camille.eide

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Camille-Eide-Author/134301859999367

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Civil War unrest & a mysterious identity that could cost her new love: Traces of Mercy by @MLandonjr & @cindyakelley

(Click the bird to Tweet)  

Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart: A Diamond In The Coal Dust & Special Interview w/Producer BRIAN BIRD

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 

Crown Media United States, LLC

If you're crazy about “When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark Channel), then you are in for a treat! We have an exclusive interview with the one of the show’s Executive Producers and Creators, Brian Bird, so read on!

If you have not seen this captivating family drama/romance, allow me to introduce you to When Calls the Heart, a Hallmark Channel original series based on a book by Janette Oke and now in the middle of its 12-week season. This show is brimming with talent including Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing, and Chelah Horsdal in addition to a large stellar cast.

I’ve been calling it “Love Comes Softly meets Little House.” Though I usually lean more toward Jane Austen than pioneer era romance, I gladly confess that I absolutely adore this series. And I’m not alone. WCTH’s audience has grown quickly and continues to grow each week, and for good reason. It is very well-written, well-cast, and well-acted. Each week, WCTH delivers heart-tugging drama and a superbly developed, chaste love story without being shallow or melodramatic. It's subtle yet powerful—the perfect blend. There is so much to love about this series! The best part: it’s an engaging drama adults can thoroughly enjoy and feel good about watching with their kids. The worst part: waiting an entire week until Saturday. Oh, the hours . . . And when it’s finally here, if only time would stop . . .

HallmarkChannel.com says:

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 Crown Media United States, LLC

“When Calls the Heart tells the captivating story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high society life, who receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coalmining town where life is simple, but often fraught with challenges. Lori Loughlin (Full House) plays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, along with a dozen other miners, has just been killed in an explosion. The newly widowed women find their faith is tested when they must go to work in the mines to keep a roof over their heads. Elizabeth charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) who believes Thatcher’s wealthy father has doomed the lawman’s career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate’s daughter. Living in a 19th century coal town, Elizabeth will have to learn the ways of the frontier if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own. The series is inspired by Janette Oke’s bestselling book series about the Canadian West, and reunites Oke with Executive Producer and Director, Michael Landon, Jr.”

For those who have not yet seen When Calls The Heart:

Coal Valley is a western town full of endearing folks bound together by tragedy and facing challenges, joys, threats, loves, losses, and an uncertain future. At the outset, the town is reeling from the loss of its men in a coal mine explosion. The widows are doing their best to hold their families together and summon the faith and courage they need for their children while grieving their own losses. The women pool their resources to hire a schoolteacher. Challenged by culture shock but eager to help, Miss Elizabeth Thatcher leaves a life of privilege in the city and sets out for the rugged west. She may not be the most suited for pioneer life, nor the most proficient in the kitchen, but she has a tenacious heart of gold and loves to see children thrive and learn.

Constable Jack Thornton, newly assigned to Coal Valley, is rattled by Elizabeth Thatcher’s presence, especially after he realizes the lovely young heiress is the reason he’s been assigned to this dead-end post. But as a Royal Canadian Mountie, he will fulfill his duty to serve and protect, and he takes his job seriously. Elizabeth continues to rattle Jack in more ways than he would like to admit, while Elizabeth finds the Constable stubborn, over-protective, and irritatingly attractive. Working together in various situations, they mix about as well as oil and water. Yet in spite of their differences, you can't miss the crackling chemistry between them.

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 Crown Media United States, LLC

Meanwhile, the women of Coal Valley continue to deal with one trial after another, like the arrival of babies without a doctor or a midwife in town. Holding worship services in the woods since the church burned down. Welcoming the new miners who have taken their husbands’ jobs by joining them at a town dance. Mysteries, buried secrets, arson, burglary. Confused children grieving for their fathers the only way they know how. And yet, through faith in God, forgiveness, and courage, life goes on, especially if Abigail Stanton has anything to say about it. She is a strong, independent woman to whom everyone turns for advice—Coal Valley’s gracious, steadfast voice of wisdom.

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 

Crown Media United States, LLC

As the story progresses, Jack accidentally insults Elizabeth while trying to protect her from hurt and fumbles to apologize, revealing his deeper feelings (the one scene in all of DVR history that ranks the highest number of rewinds and replays. Just a guess.). Elizabeth also struggles with the confusing direction her feelings have taken and is forced to decide what she believes to be true about love, faith, and trust. Of course we know there is more in store for Jack, Elizabeth, and the others, but we fans are fully prepared to hang in there and see them through.

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 

Crown Media United States, LLC

We admit it---we are thoroughly hooked. There is so much to love about this series. Like a diamond peeking through the coal dust, it’s been an unexpected treasure, a beautiful example of the faith, sacrifice, forgiveness, courage, wisdom, and grace we hope to see in ourselves and instill in our children. The sad paradox is that this show would probably appeal most to people who don’t have cable in their home because of things we don't want our kids to see. I don’t blame you. If viewing the Hallmark Channel is not an option for you, there are other ways to see this series. I’ve included links below for catching up past episodes and also for downloading the entire series online. I am hoping Hallmark will offer the entire series on DVD soon. It’s already at the top of my Christmas list and is something I will enjoy giving away as gifts.

For those who have seen and love the series:

A special treat just for you! Executive Producer and Creator Brian Bird has agreed to an interview about When Calls the Heart and you’ll meet him in a moment. But first, I want to introduce Brian by saying that it was his production journal entry for episode 6 that inspired me to blog about the series:

"I do miss my family, but I feel so blessed to be working on this show. And I can’t wait for the audience to see it. I don’t believe there will be anything like ‘When Calls the Heart’ anywhere else on TV. Yes, this is a family show, but I think we are creating something very radical. In between shots yesterday, I was asking one of our crew if they could think of another show on TV right now a whole family could watch together, and he just scratched his head. I couldn’t come up with an example either. Think about that. There used to be a time when all the networks had ‘family hour’ in prime time every night. Now it seems Hallmark Channel is the only one brave enough to put a show on like this. I pray all the hard work, ours and theirs, will be rewarded with a large audience. This is a real opportunity for people across America to make a loud statement that they are tired of all the vampires, zombies, meth dealers and dead bodies on TV. That they are ready for themes like redemption, courage, sacrifice, forgiveness and hope to rule the airwaves once again."

Well said! I think this sums up the reason people are falling in love with “When Calls The Heart” by the wagonload and want to share it with others!

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 Crown Media United States, LLC

And now . . . meet “When Calls the Heart” Producer and Creator Brian Bird!

CE: Brian, I’m going straight to the most pressing question since fans are fasting in sackcloth and ashes until we know: Will there be a Season Two?

BB: We know just as much as the fans do about this decision. The truth is it's up to the fans to make their voices heard with Hallmark and with spreading the word with their own friends about this show. That's the way hits are usually born anyway... word of mouth. There are a million choices about what to watch and a lot of cultural noise out to try to break through. One of the best ways to break through all the distractions is if our fans are very noisy themselves about the show. We have made the best show we know how. Now it's up to the culture and the network to decide if they want more.

CE:  We'll make noise! Blitz our neighborhoods with Abigail's delicious scones! Whatever it takes! So are cast and scripts for Season Two already in the works?

BB:  We have plenty of good ideas in the story bank and are ready to begin developing scripts. In season 1 our initial order was for 6 episodes, so that's what we developed ahead of time. And then when we were shooting Episode 3, Hallmark let us know that they wanted the rest of the season's worth, so we jumped into developing those scripts. 

CE:  If there will be a Season Two, does this mean Season One will end on a cliffhanger (NO!)?

BB:  Of course we will have a cliffhanger. In fact, a few of them. It wouldn't be a good season finale without them, right?

CE:  I was afraid of that! Do you see love on the horizon for Abigail? She’s go giving and self-sacrificing, we’d love to see her find love again.

BB:  You're way ahead of us, and it could begin by the end of the season... hint-hint, but there's no spoilers we'll be giving long-term.

CE:  If this isn’t too lengthy to answer: How was Janette Oke’s book adapted into a series of episodes, and how do the show’s creators decide what subplots to add to the story in order to give each episode a “complete” feel within the larger story?

BB:  When Michael and I started out with the first novel in Janette's series, we soon came to realize that as wonderful as the story of Elizabeth Thatcher in Pine Springs was, that world probably wouldn't sustain potentially 100 episodes of a TV series. That's why we decided to add another town and another branch of the family to the storytelling. And Janette Oke felt it was a brilliant way to expand the creative palette. In this way, it became a multi-generational world we could work with. 

CE:  What a blessing to have such mutual agreement on the collaborative process. How much of a role has Janette Oke played in the production of WCTH?

BB:  Janette has been very involved with our creative process. She has read every script and given us notes and ideas along the way. In fact, Janette loved the new world of the series so much she decided to create a series of When Calls the Heart-branded novels following Elizabeth and Mountie Jack in Coal Valley. The first of those novels is now out and is called "Where Courage Calls." A second one is in the works.

CE  What an unexpected bonus! Where does the writing team look for ideas?

BB:  I have been a writer-producer on half-a-dozen network TV series in my career, and the process is always the same in the writers' room. We bring our own life experiences to the table, along with true stories we find out of history (which is very important to a period drama). For instance, in episode 7, we decided to do a dyslexia story because one of our writers went through that experience with her own son, and it seemed like a really fascinating idea to see how we could do that story in a 1910 setting before there was much science about dyslexia. 

CE:  Do you think WCTH brings glory to God? If so, how?

BB:  When I was a writer-producer Touched By An Angel for five seasons, we believed that "water cooler" conversations were started all over America about the some of the great lines the Angels spoke to their "assignments" in the episodes. The angels would quote biblical themes with the people they were helping such as the idea that God loves us and has plans for our welfare. I think we have the opportunity to do something similar with When Calls the Heart, but the goal is just to stir up cravings with the great virtues of western civilization. The fact that some of those themes come from the bible can't be disputed. For instance, in Episode 4, when Reverend Anderson tells Mr. Gowen he's quitting the employ of the company, he says "Where God guides, God provides." I believe those kinds of moments in the show create a stir in viewers' hearts without being preachy, and I must have seen 15 Tweets where people quoted that very line back at us. I think those kinds of moments are faith-lifting. But it's also just good entertainment because its organic to the characters and the world we have created. 

CE:  And it is very well done. The romance between Elizabeth and Jack is also masterfully done. The timing in which it develops (so far) has been superb. Any display of caring between them is subtle, and yet clearly deepens with each episode, regardless of any conflict Jack and Elizabeth may be engaged in (and there have been several). My question is this: How do you time or stretch out a developing romance in a series like this so that it is unhurried and yet still satisfying each week (or at least gives you enough to captivate and bring you back for more)? Does someone on the writing staff have the task of drawing the romance thread throughout the series, or do all the writers have equal share in creating that part of the storyline?

BB:  The chaste romance of Janette Oke's books is one we are committed to, but to be honest, it's the trickiest part of the story-telling. It's actually very challenging to get right. So much of the human experience of courtship involves the thrill of the chase, and we know for the viewers getting Jack and Elizabeth together is becoming an obsession. However, we have to be careful because once that happens, we also believe we let some steam out of the premise of the show a.k.a. "The Moonlighting effect." We don't want it to go too fast, because once they are together we know some in the audience will be deflated. Suffice to say, we have a plan, but it will never be as fast as some want, and it to keep it family and faith-friendly, it can't ever go too far until Jack and Elizabeth one day exchange wedding rings. Tricky stuff given today's cultural norms. Keeping track of it all and pacing it correctly has been a bit of trial and error and I have some very reliable writers who have written lots of romance-dramas helping me get it right. 

CE:  I know the challenge this can be in a novel, so I can't imagine how difficult it is to pull off for an entire series! This makes me appreciate Jack and Elizabeth's love story all the more. 

Fans love the musical score. Has WCTH considered making it available for purchase/Rhapsody download?

BB:  Right now, the score is not available for download, but the music for the episodes has been created by two very talented composers, Emmy-Award-winning Lee Holdridge and Gemini-award-winning John Sereda. We are discussing the possibility of a soundtrack album for Season 1 if the show looks like it will continue. 

CE:  If Hallmark is still undecided about ordering Season Two, what can fans do to convince them we must, must, MUST have more WCTH?

BB:  The Hallmark Channel is in business to put family programming on the the air, but it also has to be able to make money doing it. It's a very simple equation: more viewers mean better advertising rates; fewer viewers mean lower advertising rates. And Hallmark is not in the business of losing money. We believe strongly from the evidence we see on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and other social media that the audience is loving the show. But people have a thousand channels and 10,000 choices of programming available every day. It's very challenging to break through all the noise and distraction of all those choices to get the word out to our potential fans that this show is worthy of their time. Without a giant (and expensive) marketing campaign, we are dependent on our loyal fans to help us spread the word about the show. Hallmark also needs to hear loud and clearly that they desperately want When Calls the Heart to continue. Even more so, regardless of whether the show goes one season or 10, family programming in America is nearing extinction. All the networks used to compete with each other to program family shows every night. That is no longer the case. In fact, I can't think of more than a few examples of family programming on all of television. We are doing something revolutionary, radical. HBO has a branding: "It's not TV, it's HBO." Well, while the rest of the networks are all following HBO over the cliff into dark and depraved and cynical programming, we are standing our ground with something very unique. It's not HBO, it's Hallmark. And if this kind of programming becomes extinct altogether, we only have ourselves to blame.  

CE:  It may be radical, but loyal (aka desperate) fans will do what it takes and believe it can and must be done! Do you know if the series will be available on DVD, and if so, when? (And can I preorder it by the pallet?)

BB:  The series will be released on a series of DVDs, the first one available in Christian bookstores on February 25 and later in all the big-box stores, throughout North America. Each DVD will contain 2 episodes and a series of extras. The first DVD contains episode 1 and 2, along with bonus features of deleted scenes and a very cool three-way conversation between Michael Landon, Janette Oke and me about the series. If, Lord-willing, the show goes into multiple seasons, it will probably be also released in full season collections. 

CE:  Brian, what was your dream, your goal, your vision when you first decided to create a series from the original novel? What is at the “heart” of When Calls the Heart?

BB:  It's Michael’s and my hope that When Calls the Heart can be a show woven through-and-through with the Great Virtues of Western Civilization. Themes such as integrity, honesty, courage, forgiveness, redemption, sacrifice and the golden rule. At the same time we don't want to hit people over the head with the Bible. We believe mankind is wired for these kinds of stories and our feeling is that the most effective way to do this show is to weave these themes into the tapestry because that is the kind of town Coal Valley is. I was talking on the set with one of our crew members about the great cultural loss of families spending time together, eating meals together, even watching TVs together, and he asked me about what families in Coal Valley might have meals together. My answer was "all of them." Michael and I want for people to fall in love with the old-fashioned values (and faith) of Coal Valley because it's exactly the kind of medicine our culture needs right now. The great virtues are an endangered species on TV right now. We want to be preservationists. 

CE:  Thank you for following this call and pressing on!! I understand this series has been nearly eight years in the works, and much of that time, you weren't even certain Hallmark would take it. What kept you going, putting in time, effort, and planning without the certainty your dream would become a reality?

BB:  I probably can't go into all the details about our journey on When Calls the Heart until the series is finished, but trust me, there's a book I could write about the experience that some might even view as a thriller. But suffice to say, this project has been one of perseverance and an attitude of never-give-up, never-say-die and failure is not an option. We are grateful to God and Hallmark for the blessing of getting this show on the air. 

And so are we! Brian, thank you so much for taking time to share your thoughts about this amazing series, and thank you for pursuing this dream. We wish you and Michael and the rest of your team incredible favor and God's finest blessings on this series and in all that the future holds for you!

Friends: Be sure to watch When Calls the Heart **LIVE** (which helps bring us a Season Two!!)  on the Hallmark Channel, Saturdays at 9/8c. You can Tweet live with the cast while you watch using @LoriLoughlin @ErinKrakow @DLissing and #WhenCallstheHeart. And don't forget to SPREAD THE WORD!

Photo Credit: Copyright 2013 Crown Media United States, LLC

For more info:

www.hallmarkchannel.com

https://www.facebook.com/whencallstheheart
Series Preview Video

Production Blog: Directors Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird share their personal journal entries during filming that reveal the real “heart” behind When Calls the Heart

Watch missed episodes at:

• Hallmark Channel Everywhere

• Amazon Instant Video

• iTunes Store ($2.99 per episode or full Season $19.99)

If you're a Heartie and want to help spread the word about our FB Fan's of Hallmark's When Calls The Heart, you can tweet an invite with one click: 

Observing (okay—Stalking) Life

The writer in me understands the value of taking note of life, creation and beauty to help flesh out stories and characters. The forgetful part of me understands that my memory is about as reliable as a stray tabby. After reading this great post by novelist Karen Schravemade at The Writer’s Alley, I decided it’s time to start carrying a notebook and jotting down observations or thoughts inspired by what’s going on, or those killer flashes of revelation while I’m out and about that I (HA!) think I’ll remember later but never do. If I think about it, there is always some takeaway in any given moment, no matter where I am or who I’m with. Great idea!

SO . . .

Stalker/Author Observation #1:

To celebrate our daughter’s 22^nd birthday, we went to a spendier-than-our-norm restaurant in downtown Portland last night. Yes, even I, the moss-gathering metrophobe, went across the river and down into the actual heart of Hipster Weirdness. And I was cool, you would have been proud of me. In all honesty, we (her parents, dual metrophobes) were glad our daughter invited us to a place she enjoyed, because it wrangled us out of our empty (*sniff*) nest. We had THE best time. The company was fun, smart, witty and refreshing. The food was incredible—even though we each opted for the cheap appetizers as our meals since none of us has won the lottery.

My husband and I noticed a couple in their late fifties or early sixties sitting side by side at a tiny table tucked into a dim corner behind us. Every once in a while, I glanced over. Not once did I ever see them talking to each other. They just ate and sipped quietly, their eyes always on the people in the restaurant. At first I thought they might be people watchers. Which is apparently a common pastime, but still seems a little creepy. I mean, mind your own stuff there, you know? But then I got to wondering. Maybe they’re both hopeless introverts in therapy and this is what dual introverts braving a date looks like. That or they’re both bored to death retirees who’ve run out of things to say to each other and watching people eat Peruvian in the Pearl District was #47 on their bucket list. Or since we were blocks from the Portland State campus, it was some kind of psyche experiment. But since our middle son, a Psyche major at PSU, wasn’t with us, I couldn’t verify that one.

Or maybe they were just too tired after a long day to do anything but eat and veg out. I don’t know if there’s anything here for me to work with, but Staring Couple on Dinner Date is going into the notebook. Because you never know when you’ll hit a point while writing a screenplay or song or novel when you need that perfect little a nugget of novelty or spark of realistic oddity.

Or...maybe they were a pair of writers collecting little nuggets of realistic people stuff to use later in a story. 

Oh. Right.

Q: What notebook observations have you made that you've used in writing?

The Journey of Eleven Moons Review & Author Interview

Bonnie Leon is a fabulous, prolific fellow Oregon author who loves to dig into the fascinating stories of her ancestral past and weave them into timeless stories that intrigue while touching your heart.

The Journey of Eleven Moons is such a story, celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special new and updated edition, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here's the Book Summary: When a tsunami washes away an entire village in Alaska during the 1850s, two young sisters must decide whom to trust. A successful walrus hunt means Anna and her beloved Kinauquak will soon be joined in marriage. But before they can seal their promise to one another, a tsunami wipes their village from the rugged shore … everyone except Anna and her little sister, Iya, who are left alone to face the Alaskan wilderness. A stranger, a Civil War veteran with golden hair and blue eyes, wanders the untamed Aleutian Islands. He offers help, but can Anna trust him or his God? And if she doesn’t, how will she and Iya survive? 

My review: The Journey of Eleven Moons

The Journey of Eleven Moons is a lovely, captivating story of love, loss, faith and courage set in the Alaskan islands in the late 1800s. Bonnie tells the story of Anna, Iya, and Erik well with an intriguing sense of place, allowing us to see life through a native Aleutian woman’s eyes and feel her fear and her need for courage to face an uncertain future. Though just 16, Anna is a strong but gentle young woman you can’t help but admire and root for. Her young sister Iya is a caring little girl you also can’t help falling in love with.

When a tragic disaster wipes out Anna’s village, Anna as sole survivor must take on the role of mother to her young sister and ensure their survival. She knows only life on the island and is dependent on the sea. She can do all the things she’s skilled to do—gather food and make baskets from grass and pouches and clothing from hides. But without the men and their ability to hunt, the girls cannot survive the coming winter on their own. They need help. And yet there is no one to whom they can turn—no one except a tall, handsome stranger, and yet the girls know full well not to trust “outsiders”.

Erik is quiet but strong with a kind heart. He too has suffered loss. Anna and Erik must unwillingly join forces to survive, working together as a team while facing treacherous conditions of both the land and sea, the threat of treacherous, heartless men, and the threat of becoming bound by love to someone you can’t have. Most of all, they must find the courage to surrender to a God who sees the beginning and the end when all they see is the frightening unknown.

This story brought tears to my eyes as I shared in the heartaches and the hopes of all three. I would love to see this book made into a film! I enjoyed it very much. What a touching, intriguing story!

This book is available at:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

MEET BONNIE LEON!

Q: You’ve written several books that take place in Alaska. Why Alaska?

A: My heritage is Aleut, an Alaskan native. My grandmother and great grandmother were Aleut and they left a colorful and fascinating heritage for me. My mother is the only one in her family who left the state. She was only eighteen years old when she moved to Seattle during World War II. Talk about be brave.

When I jumped into researching the Alaskan culture and its people all the family stories came alive for me and I felt truly connected with my ancestors and the native culture for the first time. My heritage is part of who I am and I love sharing it with readers.

Q: Where did the idea for The Journey of Eleven Moons come from?

A: Most of my stories originate from real experiences or history. The Journey of Eleven Moons came from both. Alaska history is intriguing and even a little mysterious—a perfect back drop for any story.  Plus, one of the stories told by my grandmother has always stuck in my heart and mind. She lived in Unalaska and was a young woman when she stood on a bluff overlooking a small bay. Without warning the water in the bay receded and was soon followed by a powerful tsunami. The experience has always stayed with me and when I decided to write the story of The Journey of Eleven Moons that’s where began, there on that bluff with my grandmother.

Q: Just for fun. If you could have any super power what would it be?

A: What an exciting idea. I’d fly.

For those who know me, you understand how I feel about heights—I don’t like them. But being able to fly removes any fear of falling so I figure that my fear of heights would evaporate. And can you imagine how amazing it would be to have the freedom of flight? It would be like dancing in the air. I sometimes watch birds and marvel at their acrobatic skills, and their joy is evident as they swoop and glide and even spin. How I wish it were one of my special skills.

Q: If you could do one thing over, what would it be?

A: That’s a really difficult question (my daughter asked me this). I’m not certain. Right off the bat, I think I’d make sure not to be on Little River Road, the day the log truck hit my van. That moment changed my life in so many ways.

Since then, I’ve lived with chronic pain and disability. I really do not like that and sometimes I dream about what life would be like if only I’d never been hit by that truck. But I have to remember that God is sovereign. He didn’t just stand back and say, “Oh no. That truck is going to hit Bonnie. Oh dear! What should I do?” No. He had a plan and I trust Him. I don’t think I would have written if I’d not been hit that day. I turned to writing when everything else had been taken away.

So, the answer is . . . I wouldn’t change anything except maybe love others better. There is nothing that touches me that God has not allowed. And either I trust Him or I don’t.

Q: Where can readers order your new book?

A: The Journey of Eleven Moons is available on http://www.amazon.com in paper back and on Kindle as well as http://www.barnesandnoble.com.  You can order directly from Ashberry Lane Publishing at http://www.ashberrylane.com. And of course if your local store does not carry the book you can ask them to order it for you.

Q: Where can readers find you online?

A: I’m always available on my website at http://www.bonnieleon.com and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor.

I love to hear from readers so I hope some of you will drop me a line.

MORE ABOUT BONNIE:

Storytelling has always been an integral part of Bonnie Leon’s life. From childhood, she cherished the legends and family history handed down through her Aleut ancestors. 

Throughout the ensuing years, Bonnie dabbled at writing but didn’t seriously consider becoming a professional author. Instead, as a young woman, she happily stepped into the full-time profession of homemaker and mother. Pollywog hunting, finger-painting, blackberry picking, and creating fun messes in the kitchen with her children are some of her most precious and irreplaceable memories.

When her youngest child was nine years old, Bonnie decided it was time to return to the working world. She took a position in her hometown of Glide, Oregon, working with the elderly and handicapped.

Then on June 11, 1991, her world was shattered when a log truck hit the van she was driving. The accident left her unable to work, and after months of rehabilitation she was told by physicians that she would never return to a normal life. Facing a daunting fight to reclaim her life and feeling as if she had nothing to offer the world, she asked God to give her something to do that mattered.

His answer came when she received a scholarship to attend the Oregon Christian Writer’s Summer Conference. That conference ignited Bonnie’s passion for literature and for writing, and she has been writing ever since.

Upcoming Movie Review: "Let It Snow" - A Genuine Hallmark Holiday Treat

“Let It Snow,” starring Candace Cameron Bure, Jesse Hutch, and Alan Thicke, premieres Saturday, November 30, at 8/7c as part of the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas.

When a resort executive is sent to a newly purchased lodge in Maine with instructions to turn it in to an ultra-modern resort, she finds a charming, successful lodge loaded with holiday spirit and makes a connection with the owner's handsome son. Will she stick with her boss/father’s plans to tear everything down or find a way to save what she has come to love? (~from HallmarkChannel.com)

Movie Review: Falling in Love With the Magic of Christmas

Snow may fall, but hearts melt in this warm holiday story about family, love, and the magic of Christmas.

When Stephanie Beck, self-proclaimed “grinch” arrives at the picturesque Snow Valley Lodge in Maine at Christmas, she is far from the warmth of her Arizona high-rise. Her job: to make recommendations to her boss—who is also her father and the property’s new owner—for tearing down the family-owned lodge and starting over from the ground up with a trendy hot spot for singles. 

But arriving at Snow Valley Lodge at Christmas makes Stephanie’s job increasingly difficult. As she lets herself take part in the lodge’s daily Christmas traditions like hanging ornaments, making gifts for the children’s hospital, sampling delicious treats, building gingerbread houses, lighting the Christmas Tree and singing carols, taking a horse drawn sleigh ride, she can’t help but feel drawn to the love and feeling of family here, something she hasn’t felt in a long time.  

Soon, not only does Stephanie fall unexpectedly in love with Christmas, but also with Brady, the lodge owners’ son. Stephanie’s growing desire to understand this enchanting winter wonderland and why its guests return every year for Christmas forces Brady to see the simple beauty surrounding him and to remember what he once appreciated about this lodge that his family has run for generations. Suddenly, Brady isn't sure about the direction his future was heading. 

And neither is Stephanie. Her future depends on her ability to change the charming, family-loved lodge to fit her company’s hip, happening brand, but she can’t find it in her heart to do that. Her father pressures her for a decision, but any decision she makes will require a heartbreaking sacrifice. Her heart and her job are on the line. Has her time in Snow Valley melted her heart enough that she can hear what it’s telling her?

“Let It Snow” is a charming story about love, about family, about what a gift people are to one another. It reminds us not to take anything for granted, including simple family traditions. It reminds us to see the love we have right in front of us, and if necessary, to allow our hearts to say things left too long unspoken. A genuine Hallmark holiday treat!

~Movie Review by Camille Eide

Author of Savanna’s Gift, A Romantic Christmas Novella

Touching, Unforgettable

SWEET DREAMS by Carla Stewart

(Book bio)

It's 1962, and Dusty Fairchild, daughter of a self-made millionaire and oilman, wants to go to college. Instead she is sent to a private finishing school in East Texas. Although she's never wanted for material possessions, Dusty longs for independence and adventure. The only upside to attending Miss Fontaine's is having her cousin and best childhood friend, Paisley, join her. Paisley has traveled the country with her bohemian mother, but she dreams of putting down roots and living a settled life. At Miss Fontaine's, their loyalty to each other binds them, but when they fall in love with the same handsome young man, their relationship teeters on shaky ground. Only after a tragic accident do they learn where their true hearts-and dreams-lie.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Sweet Dreams is another fine masterpiece told in Carla Stewart’s smooth, gentle drawl, as inviting as a gracious southern belle’s offer of an ice-cold lemonade on a dry Texas day.

It’s an engaging story of two young women entering into adulthood amid uncertainties about themselves and their dreams, steered by others in a time and culture when young women weren’t sure they had a say in who they were or who they could be woven through a colorful backdrop of the sixties and sprinkled with glimmers of the sixties’ music culture.

Dusty Fairchild and Paisley Finch are each strong yet vulnerable in her own way. The heart-tugging conflict between two young women who should be able to count on each other made me ask myself what I would have done in their situation. Would I choose the way of grace? Would I pursue fulfillment of my dreams regardless the cost?

Sweet Dreams is a story about love, loyalty, secrets, and forgiveness. It’s about having the courage to voice your dreams and then believing you can make them come true. It’s an inspiring reminder to be yourself whether you fit in or not. It reminds us to not be so hasty to judge on appearances. And it reminds us how pride can rob us of time that could be spent with those we hold dearest, that we have a choice to love the family we have, regardless their shortcomings and mistakes.

What I loved: Dusty’s wise grace toward others in spite of the way they treated her. I admired her courage to speak up when the need outweighed the consequences, and to be a person in her own right in a time when a woman didn’t have much of a voice. I admired the way Dusty took her circumstances and made the best of it.

I also loved Paisley’s inner strength, her ability to recognize the value of certain people in her life in spite of their disappointing flaws. She also took her circumstances and made the best of it, an admirable strength both young women possessed and, I think, inspired in each other.

I applaud Dusty and Paisley for prodding each other to refresh their wish list often, and for keeping sight of their dream, and for trying their best to put family first even if family didn’t always put them first. Most of all, I appreciate the beauty of sacrificial love displayed by several characters, making it one of the most touching, unforgettable stories I’ve read in a long time. -Camille Eide

Carla’s books can be found at her website: http://www.carlastewart.com/books/

Why I Write Murder Mysteries by Athol Dickson

I'm a big fan of author Athol Dickson's novel River Rising, a lyrical, riveting, inspiring story that stunned me with both its style and unique twist, and made me really want to write. Yes, all that from one book. 

And now, Athol has branched out into murder mysteries? More on that in a minute...

Bio:
Dickson's mystery, suspense, and literary novels have won three Christy Awards and an Audie Award. Suspense fans who enjoyed Athol's They Shall See God will love his latest novel, January Justice, the first installment in a new mystery series called "The Malcolm Cutter Memoirs." The second and third novels in the series, Free Fall in February, and A March Murder, are coming in 2013.

Critics have favorably compared Athol's work to such diverse authors as Octavia Butler (Publisher's Weekly), Hermann Hesse (The New York Journal of Books) and Flannery O'Connor (The New York Times). 

So...if you've read Athol's previous works, you may be asking: So why murder mysteries? Here's his reply:

=====================

Why I Write Murder Mysteries by Athol Dickson

Recently I read a fascinating article in The New York Times about what may well be the first true murder mystery novel ever written. Conventional wisdom holds that the honor belongs to Wilkie Collins, who published The Moonstone in 1868, but the author of the Times piece discovered a novel written six years earlier called The Notting Hill Mystery, which he claims has all the ingredients of a modern murder mystery, and deserves the credit as Whodunit Number One.

The novel was published in serial fashion in a periodical, as was common in those days, and the author used a pseudonym. But apparently there’s good reason to believe The Notting Hill Mystery was written by Charles Warren Adams, one of the publishers of the periodical. Hopefully, Adams will one day receive the full credit for his invention of my favorite genre. It was a monumental achievement.

But intriguing though this is to a mystery aficionado like myself, the real meat of the article for me come almost as an aside near the end, where the Times piece says, “Adams was also notably religious, which points to an unexpected characteristic of the first detective novel: it’s profoundly moral. It asks not just how evil exists, but what is to be done about it. Detective novels, like sermons, can offer gratifyingly simple answers to those questions, or thoughtful and troubling ones.”

It seems to me we love a good murder mystery because in the end they’re the stories which touch most directly on death and justice. Death is the ultimate mystery of real life. What is it, exactly? Why must it exist? What should we do about it? Even the best of murder mysteries can’t answer those questions completely, but the best murder mysteries all explore the possibilities.

And when we start exploring death, something in us cries out that it isn’t right. We all long for justice, don’t we? That’s the other thing a good murder mystery delivers: a little imitation justice. The bad guy gets his in the end, or else someone has the guts to stand and rage against the second greatest mystery of all, which is why injustice exists in the first place.

I love that about murder mysteries. It’s why I’ve read, oh, about a thousand of them. And it’s why I’m writing “The Malcolm Cutter Memoirs.”

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January Justice, the first book in Athol's "Malcom Cutter Memoirs" Series, is now available, and I am looking forward to reading it. I'll be back soon with a review, so watch for that. -C