tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39636676242516196162024-02-07T15:00:13.268-05:00Second CupJune Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-78430590374894570232015-01-20T17:04:00.000-05:002015-01-20T17:13:41.030-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75;">Popular Amish Series: The Zook Family Revisited</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">Available at Amazon in Paper or ebook</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<br />June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-73120358301607739992015-01-19T17:02:00.001-05:002015-01-19T17:02:48.983-05:00Newest Books from June Belfie<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3pXFsQCMl-veLUsnQUWqm1AFWD6wLUq3sPiKJuDj2ukwctErp-CtOZf2ImN-Q2_qIFNIgbN4ZZgML4hGGU5Ne89eoYGH5HxGkU92vCJ9CB-WEXm80iU6N-iTllPHpCQGGn-XlE1IKhQ/s1600/Julia's_Search_for_I_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3pXFsQCMl-veLUsnQUWqm1AFWD6wLUq3sPiKJuDj2ukwctErp-CtOZf2ImN-Q2_qIFNIgbN4ZZgML4hGGU5Ne89eoYGH5HxGkU92vCJ9CB-WEXm80iU6N-iTllPHpCQGGn-XlE1IKhQ/s1600/Julia's_Search_for_I_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Book One of a three book series</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Julia now available in paper or electronically through Amazon</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Chapter One<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Some scars are visible,
while others remain unseen, but they are still there—silently eating away at
the very soul of their victim. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">With eyes closed, Julia
Montgomery lifted her head and allowed the flow from the showerhead to cleanse
her. Oh, that it would wash away the haunting memories. Would they ever leave
her? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, Robbie</i>. Even after so many
years, that horrible day was as vivid as it was when it occurred. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">She shut off the water and
reached for the oversized plush white bath towel—more like a blanket than a
towel—and wrapped her shivering body in a cocoon of terry cloth. She knew
better than to take a nap mid-day. That’s when the nightmares were most vivid,
but she’d be out late tonight if all went well, and she needed to sleep first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ah, the evening ahead. Her
foreign friends accepted her just the way she was. “Miss Perfect” could be
herself. Tell jokes, laugh out loud, even use occasional slang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">First, she’d endure her
meal. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dinner was served as usual in the
family’s stately apartment overlooking one of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>’s manicured parks. When she’d arrived
nearly a year before,<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city></st1:place> had seemed too large and impersonal, but
now it was a part of her psyche. How could she return to her sterile
surroundings on <st1:place w:st="on">Long Island</st1:place>? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Francesco, their servant,
pulled out the ornate antique side chair as she approached, and then helped
slide the chair under the table as Julia settled into it. She smiled up at him
as she reached for her damask napkin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julia’s mother, Joanne, looked up from her latest
novel, nodded, and then returned to her page. Julia looked over at this
stranger who had given birth to her twenty-two years before. This woman who
prided herself on being an American. Her absorption in her heritage meant more
to her than any accomplishment attributed to her daughter or anyone else in the
family. An ardent member of the Daughters of the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">American
Revolution, she believed all who arrived on the shores of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
after 1776 were intruders or foreigners. Living a year in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> was a
great concession on her part. Julia tolerated her mother's intolerance, vowing
never to be like her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Silence prevailed as mother and daughter, each
absorbed in their own worlds, took nourishment together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Francesco, I’ll have a little more bouillon.” Joanne
remarked as she adjusted her reading glasses and wiped her mouth with the
over-sized napkin. Julia glanced over as the house servant ladled more soup
into her mother’s French porcelain bouillon cup. Her mother continued to read
silently and barely glanced up. After a few moments Julia broke the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Mother, when is Dad coming back from the States?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I’m not sure. He has business matters to clear up
first.” She closed the book after bending the corner of the page—a habit that
infuriated Julia—a bibliophile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I’m going out after supper for awhile," Julia
said, wiping her mouth. “I’ll probably be home late, so leave a light on, if
you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“This is the third night in a row,” her mother said as
she took a sip of bouillon and reached for a roll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Fourth.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Joanne grimaced as she was corrected. “Fourth then.
Where do you go? You know it’s dangerous in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city> at night—especially for a woman. I
should actually forbid you to go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I won’t be alone. I told you before, I have tons of
friends.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Isn’t it time I met some of these people?” Her mother
looked over her reading glasses with a demanding expression, which Julia
attempted to avoid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“You wouldn’t like them. They’re just<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ordinary</i> people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Oh, please, Julia, don’t start that again.” Joanne
rolled her eyes as she removed her glasses and laid them on the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I’m sorry, it’s just that…well, they have different
values and customs. You might find them coarse or loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Very well. Point well taken. Quite frankly, I don’t
understand your fascination with people like that. You’ve been brought up so
differently. Just be careful you don’t get too personal with these foreigners.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I believe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we’re</i>
the foreigners, Mother.” Julia tried to restrain her annoyance, but her voice
had an edge to it that was not lost on her mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I’m so weary of your sarcasm. I can’t wait to return
to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
I only wish your father were here. I’m sure he would not like you going out at
night by yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I think he’d be pleased that I’m finally gaining some
independence and self-confidence. By the way, did he do well in his interview?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I have no idea. But then, your father always does
well, doesn’t he?” Julia knew her mother’s pride in her husband was founded
upon his financial success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Francesco removed the empty bowls and placed a
sparsely prepared entrée before each of them. The large white dinner plate
contained a small four-inch piece of salmon adorned by a creamy dab of sauce
partially shadowed by a fresh sprig of dill. The only sound in the room was the
light clicking of forks against the brittle china.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julia checked her watch and rose from her chair,
leaving her meal only half-eaten. “I’m going to have to leave, Mother. I
promised to be—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Go—just go. Whatever.” Her mother waved as she would
at an annoying fly, replaced her glasses, and returned to her novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julia glanced at the mirror in the hallway on her way
out. She tossed her long auburn hair behind her shoulders, removed her large
Hermes purse from the marble-topped table which stood near the entranceway, and
slipped quickly out the door. She breathed a sigh of relief.<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="display: none; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hide: all;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Her steps quickened as she melted into the vibrancy of
the Roman city. It was May, and she enjoyed the days as they lengthened. A warm
gentle breeze, emanating from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tiber</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>, caressed her
cheeks. As the sun began its descent, it cast long shadows from the 17<sup>th</sup>
century stucco buildings across the brick alleyways. The moon was visible in
the darkening sky and as she passed fountains prevalent in this old section of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>, she noticed the
glimmering lights reflected in the pools of water. For Julia, the most
enchanting quality of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>
was its robustness and vitality. This ancient city awakened an excitement and
sensuality in her soul. She thought it strange—<st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> only irritated her and created
stress. Why such a difference?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">She headed down the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Corso V. Emanuelle</i> toward the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Piazza
Navona</i>. Small groups of Romans gestured and laughed together. No one
remained indoors; even toddlers in carriages added to the festivities. A warm
glow refreshed her spirit, and she found herself smiling. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Buona sera,” </i>she said in passing. People reciprocated her greeting
with cheerful nods. How safe she felt in this huge history-filled city, though
it was probably an illusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julia approached the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fontana del Moro</i>, south of the square. The art appreciation course she
was taking covered Roman art in detail and she had sketched this fountain the
previous week for an assignment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">She stood for a moment admiring the lovely
antique-rose marble that created the basin. Two little boys about three years old
splashed each other, cheered on by an older girl already damp from the
fountain. Julia stood motionless for a moment, her heart pounding. No, not
tonight. She wouldn’t allow her thoughts to surface again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It was quarter after seven, and many of the small
shops remained open, hoping to entice the tourist or native Italian for a
last-minute purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">At last she arrived at her destination. For the past
several months, Julia had met with a group of friends, mostly Italians, at a
small café along the piazza. A girl from her art class named Angelica, had
invited her to join some friends one evening, and Julia’s life had taken on new
meaning. She attended their get-togethers frequently after that. There were no
false pretenses; no one even asked what her father did for a living, as they did
in the States. The fact she wore only designer clothing wasn’t even mentioned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Julia felt accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This time of year the group sat outside under the
canopies. At least eight or nine friends congregated nightly for pizza and
camaraderie. As Julia approached the crowded café, she heard a familiar voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Julias-Search-Independence-June-Belfie-ebook/dp/B00RXX909Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421704101&sr=1-1&keywords=Julia%27s+search+for+independence&pebp=1421704105547&peasin=B00RXX909Y" target="_blank">To purchase:</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Julias-Search-Independence-June-Belfie-ebook/dp/B00RXX909Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421704101&sr=1-1&keywords=Julia%27s+search+for+independence&pebp=1421704105547&peasin=B00RXX909Y">http://www.amazon.com/Julias-Search-Independence-June-Belfie-ebook/dp/B00RXX909Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421704101&sr=1-1&keywords=Julia%27s+search+for+independence&pebp=1421704105547&peasin=B00RXX909Y</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-14945492116884930182013-04-30T09:48:00.001-04:002013-04-30T09:48:52.608-04:00<span style="font-size: x-large;">Katie's Discovery - </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Book three of "The Zook Sisters of Lancaster County."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UvC-3tX6tMVjwZyd0aUi_cqni_-jKRyU39uZktwxOjRvAbZneLoz71BthoGO6IkrwcgVUAGcv0Zd-VFT7W6L4veA607B5q38zbtm0-fGrmE9mSpb5rEWGxykog4X2Qidl52YjyJwxfk/s1600/Katie's_Discovery_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UvC-3tX6tMVjwZyd0aUi_cqni_-jKRyU39uZktwxOjRvAbZneLoz71BthoGO6IkrwcgVUAGcv0Zd-VFT7W6L4veA607B5q38zbtm0-fGrmE9mSpb5rEWGxykog4X2Qidl52YjyJwxfk/s640/Katie's_Discovery_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Katies-Discovery-Sisters-Lancaster-ebook/dp/B00CJBIOTC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2">http://www.amazon.com/Katies-Discovery-Sisters-Lancaster-ebook/dp/B00CJBIOTC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2</a>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-52563902358706990522013-03-04T07:08:00.001-05:002015-01-20T15:46:50.602-05:00 Book 2 of THE ZOOK SISTERS OF LANCASTER COUNTY - Emma's Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_DraaaoqxezvYzZzHJ-xMYHrJHsHR3Nfz4GmuHWcXyTi_7eY123jmtvS_SbhbFD0kTnCrv0PjKfqPrZEsQqlQ6BXZ6dhVS11hkcYIGjrUJExTIVeGD2BDaTpKH5fDsmOujPwFgX5smo/s1600/Emmas-Choice-alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_DraaaoqxezvYzZzHJ-xMYHrJHsHR3Nfz4GmuHWcXyTi_7eY123jmtvS_SbhbFD0kTnCrv0PjKfqPrZEsQqlQ6BXZ6dhVS11hkcYIGjrUJExTIVeGD2BDaTpKH5fDsmOujPwFgX5smo/s640/Emmas-Choice-alt.jpg" height="640" width="419" /></a></div>
<br />
Available in Paper or electronically at Amazon.<br />
<br />
http://www.amazon.com/Emmas-Choice-Sisters-Lancaster-County/dp/1482015544/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362398848&sr=1-11&keywords=emma%27s+choiceJune Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-47653931129166996622013-02-06T14:09:00.002-05:002015-01-20T18:17:49.020-05:00Ruth's Dilemma - New Amish Novel - Book One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiInWuW8uk3hbY9UTVro1tOA2p1rJ-OFXBd8gWl1cDcoR3TpzKU-lQqGkwb26J511llm-zM-i7-SxQZg2m3IBke499lLLZzpe7J9QYC2RxroO8je4HC7cmuzaY4nhetgjQKhqIs6Cm0mY/s1600/Ruth's_Dilemma_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiInWuW8uk3hbY9UTVro1tOA2p1rJ-OFXBd8gWl1cDcoR3TpzKU-lQqGkwb26J511llm-zM-i7-SxQZg2m3IBke499lLLZzpe7J9QYC2RxroO8je4HC7cmuzaY4nhetgjQKhqIs6Cm0mY/s400/Ruth's_Dilemma_Cover_for_Kindle.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">This is available in print or electronically. It is the first of a 3-book series about three Amish sisters of Lancaster County. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To purchase through Barnes and Noble:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ruths-dilemma-june-bryan-belfie/1114293877?ean=9781481217743">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ruths-dilemma-june-bryan-belfie/1114293877?ean=9781481217743</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
or through Amazon:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481217747/sr=8-14/qid=1359815767/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1359815767&seller=&sr=8-14"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481217747/sr=8-14/qid=1359815767/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1359815767&seller=&sr=8-14</span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CFPBKXcJXZs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span> </div>
June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-82330082608427137442013-01-17T19:01:00.000-05:002013-01-17T19:01:05.959-05:00New e-book available now through your favorite book store.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgspS00MZKPgm7Tx8izAbdgq8jibt7zeSdb8pO6MfF6R8cvPMQ4Iar0DHjzhhGmJNwmCcMV6PT2nax6DhZg04KX7e1u6k3qMvLiVdkTtONnqh3m3Rie1urFtY2oSUARDYewxUCWGB78f8/s1600/TheInnGameCoverArt72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgspS00MZKPgm7Tx8izAbdgq8jibt7zeSdb8pO6MfF6R8cvPMQ4Iar0DHjzhhGmJNwmCcMV6PT2nax6DhZg04KX7e1u6k3qMvLiVdkTtONnqh3m3Rie1urFtY2oSUARDYewxUCWGB78f8/s640/TheInnGameCoverArt72dpi.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-34284147027725798912013-01-15T13:43:00.000-05:002015-01-20T18:15:19.914-05:00My New e-book now available The background for this novel came from my experience as an inn-keeper. For my memoirs, check out "Inn Sane" (paper), but for a fun, fast fiction, read "The Inn Game." (Published by Desert Breeze Publishing House)<br />
<br />June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-35266082514406738952012-11-18T09:55:00.001-05:002015-01-20T18:15:06.283-05:00 AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR E-BOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;">A Romantic Christian Novel about choices.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkn148blFmthVxU-LpH2HGj1Oa4oXKmr7XEtz08at3dxZeHCT2ZvxR9Ljy3gz6Gp6Txu4Ba-nrOUNjQT96ENWg3cSQ4jhyM8kBy9Im3rUQ8okfp5aAMRXzIxZDGeeBK2ZO246uvhNMHWU/s1600/dreamstime_Grace-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkn148blFmthVxU-LpH2HGj1Oa4oXKmr7XEtz08at3dxZeHCT2ZvxR9Ljy3gz6Gp6Txu4Ba-nrOUNjQT96ENWg3cSQ4jhyM8kBy9Im3rUQ8okfp5aAMRXzIxZDGeeBK2ZO246uvhNMHWU/s1600/dreamstime_Grace-Cover.jpg" height="640" width="419" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Grace-June-Belfie-ebook/dp/B00HRWYXRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421795471&sr=1-1&keywords=all+about+grace"><span style="color: #134f5c;">http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Grace-June-Belfie-ebook/dp/B00HRWYXRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421795471&sr=1-1&keywords=all+about+grace</span></a><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/june-bryan-belfie?store=book&keyword=june+bryan+belfie"><span style="color: #134f5c;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/june-bryan-belfie?store=book&keyword=june+bryan+belfie</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Celia, a law student in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city></st1:place>, discovers unconditional love as
she works her way through her past. No father and a promiscuous mother lead her
toward self-destruction, but a man's love and his mother's unselfishness give
rise to a real future. Everything changes when she discovers she must make a
decision that will change the course of her life.</div>
<br />
<br />
For your reading pleasure I've included part of the first chapter:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Chapter One<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I have no idea
who my father was. Neither does the woman who gave birth to me. It doesn't
matter. Not really.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Right now I'm
headed for my Yoga session and I really need to relax. After studying for a
whole week and taking my exams, I can feel the stress messing up my neck and
shoulders. Couldn't even sleep last night. Of all times </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">to run out of booze. Just as well.
I promised myself I was done drinking, and I mean it this time. I simply don't
need it. I warned Mo (that's for Mohammad) not to bring it in anymore. The jerk
laughed, but then he saw I was serious and cut the humor. I even warned him to
get a job or get out. It's hard enough supporting myself on a part-time job,
let alone putting up with a guy. Okay, so sometimes he breaks down and buys a
few groceries. Big deal. He eats like a horse, when he's not too high. Which
isn't often. I thought Muslims didn't drink, but then I think he only changed
his name to be cool. I've never seen him pray. Never.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I reach the
neighborhood where I take my Yoga class and park a block away. Figure it won't
kill me to walk that far, even though it's freezing. Might work out the kinks.
One good thing about living in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city></st1:place>,
you can find anything you want around here. This Yoga class is actually in a
woman's home. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">After I lock the
car I catch up with my friend, Jasmine. I'm envious of that girl--she's got
guys clambering after her. Her father works for the State Department. I have no
idea what he does. Neither does she, but she says it's important. "So where
were you last week?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Amsterdam</st1:city></st1:place>. I had to travel
with my job. I forgot to mention it."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Rough
job."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Honestly,
Celia, it's getting tough making it through airports and all."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Yeah. I'm
sure they give you the third degree. As if you looked like a terrorist."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Well I do
have long black hair and--"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I roll my eyes
at her. "You know you're way gorgeous. No one would mistake you for a bad
guy. A movie star, maybe. Hey, I finished up my exams today."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">We head to the
changing room and put on our exercise clothes. Mine are getting pretty beat,
but I don't have the cash for new ones. Guess I'll check out the Salvation Army
next week.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Jasmine twists
her long black hair into a weird configuration and tucks it under a couple of
clips. "How do you think they went? The exams. Will you pass?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I hope so.
Actually, they weren't bad. So far I've got <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A'</i>s
in all my classes except one."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Which one
is that?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Music
appreciation. I took it as an elective. Didn't need it for my law degree, but
thought it would be fun and easy."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"You should
be good in that course since you play guitar," she says as we head into
the class. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">The six regulars
are already stretching and gabbing. They're older than we are and we never pay
much attention to them. Especially after that dog, Roseanne, or some name like
that, made a remark about my tattoo. It's just a rose, for crying out loud.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I continue my conversation
with Jasmine as we get on the mats and stretch our legs. "I know. I
thought it would be a breeze, but I had to diagram symphonies and stuff."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Never
heard of that. Thought diagramming sentences was hard. I can't imagine putting
music through that."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"It's not
quite the same, but it's hard. What's new with the guys? Any one steady yet?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Maybe.
I've been seeing a lot of Zach--the guy who owns the sporting goods
store."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Ladies,
it's time to stop all the gossip and begin to relax. Let's get into the Lotus
position and breathe deeply."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Silence takes
over and we all obey our teacher, though I don't think she knows much more than
we do at this point. Maybe I'll teach the class myself someday.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">An hour later we
leave and I decide to stop at the store for some veggies. I'm on a constant
diet, which I figure I'll be on for the rest of my life. Fat runs in the
family<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at least on my mother's side.
That's according to her, but I've never met anyone else related to me besides
Mom's sister, Aunt Felicia, and she's so skinny it's scary. She stays indoors
on windy days. Honest. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">This time I
wasn't lucky enough to get near the entrance. I have to park at the far end of
the parking lot here at Walmart and it's beginning to snow. It shouldn't take
long to buy fruit and veggies and pick up soy milk.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Wouldn't you
know it? That cool Mr. Perfect from one of my law classes is buying bananas.
Maybe he won't see me--</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Celia, I
thought that was you," he begins with a huge smile. Alright, I have to
admit, he is fabulous to look at. He could be the leading man in a movie. But
he's so…so what? Uptight. That's it. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"The very
one. Those bananas are way too ripe. You'll be throwing them out in two
days." I pick up greener ones and hand them over. He looks confused, poor
thing. For someone as brilliant as he is in class, you'd think he'd know how to
buy bananas.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Thanks.
What about grapefruit?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"What about
them?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"What do I
look for when I buy them?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Are you
planning to?" I have to hold back a laugh. I mean, really.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Guess I'll
skip them. I don't really like grapefruit that much. How do you think you did
on the exam?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Aced
it."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Seriously?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Well, of
course I'm not certain, but it seemed easy enough." I reach for some
escarole and a package of carrots. I'm thinking maybe he'll take a hint and go
away, but then on second thought, do I really want him to? I have to admit, he
is quite the handsome dude.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Look, it's
snowing harder now," he says looking out the glass doors. "It nice to
look at, but I hate driving in it. Guess I shouldn't complain, after all it is
December. Want to have a cup of coffee till it slows down?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I barely
have enough cash for my groceries."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I'll
treat."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I let out a long
sigh in order to look totally indifferent, though I can feel my heart skipping
beats. "In that case."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Good. We can
go into McDonald's here and leave our carts till we're ready to check
out."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">We wheel the
carts over and find a small table for two. "Can I get a snack?" <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I think that's a trifle bold - even for me,
but why not?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Anything.
You want a burger?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Maybe fries.
Large."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Why is he grinning at me? What did I say?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I'll be
right back. Don't go away."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Like I would when free food is on its way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">While he orders,
I quickly add a touch of lipstick and smooth down my hair. It's the first time
we've talked more than a few sentences. I hope I don't goof up.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">A toddler's
piercing shriek comes from the next table. Why doesn't that mother clobber her
brat? Look at the way he smears the ketchup all over the table. Gross. When I
have kids… I doubt I ever will, since I never liked them much. Now the kid's
punching his sister. I thought about offering her a piece of advice but Al's
heading back to the table, so she's on her own.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"That was
fast service," I say, smiling. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Here I
bought us each a milkshake to go with the fries." </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"What
flavor?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Chocolate.
Is that okay?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Guess it
has to be." <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I love chocolate.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I can
drink them both and get you--"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"No. That's
fine, but I need two straws. It's way too thick for one." </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">After adding a
second straw from the counter next to the table, he sits down across from me.
Oh, good grief, is he going to pray or something? He has his head down. After
all, it's just a snack. He looks up. Whew! Guess he just had his eyes closed.
"Sooo, what's your last name, Al? I should probably remember, but…"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"The whole
name is a moniker and a half. Ready?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I shake my head.
I mean - how bad can it be?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Vernon
Alexander Elliott, the third."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bad</i>. "You sound like a pompous
politician."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Unfortunately,
I didn't have much say in the matter."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I guess
that's why they call you Al."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">His smile is
disarming. I don't have a chance with this gorgeous creature so why the
shivers. He is way out of my league.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"And you?
Is Celia your real name?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"No, just a
nickname. My real name is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ravenna</st1:city></st1:place>.
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ravenna</st1:city></st1:place> Cicilia
Petterson."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Somehow, it's kinda
weird-sounding in front of Al.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Ravenna</st1:city></st1:place>. That's an odd
name. I've never heard it before."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"My mother
named me that because she figured I was conceived in <st1:city w:st="on">Ravenna</st1:city>
-- <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
that is."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Interesting."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"It sure
beats Roma, don't you think?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I love his laugh.
It's so…so deep and real.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"So you're
Italian?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Half. The
other half is Swedish."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"That
accounts for your fair skin and green eyes, I guess. It's a nice contrast to
your black hair."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Have you
applied to a law firm yet?" I ask hoping he won't get into my family
stuff. The compliment stuff is fine, though.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Yeah. I've
been accepted at Fontaine & Fontaine in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city></st1:place>. How about you?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"I've sent
out a few letters, but nothing yet. Of course, I still have three semesters to
go. You're graduating this spring, aren't you?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Yes, I'm
glad to say. Do you have a job for next summer?" he asks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">I slurp the last
of the milkshake and look up to see him grinning again. "Not yet. I've
applied for interning at a couple law firms here in Philly, but haven't
heard."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Maybe I
can help you out. I worked at F. & F. last summer as an intern. They
usually take on several every summer. Want me to put in a good word for
you?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"You'd do
that? I'm practically a stranger."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">"Not
really. I've been watching you. You're a real bright student. I think you'll go
places."</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-44661715058601139432012-11-05T15:12:00.001-05:002012-11-05T15:12:55.578-05:00Hope Chest Review for "A Special Blessing for Sara"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></em></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Review from the Hope Chest Review<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Received 4 Stars<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8nUJfe7ZD_HxrFSK5x1fwNW2wvBayUdtmdH05ux_5Y8e4Czlt77IpIW8FLO95l1nkSpBCW6Q361N_f4Ottn_lWuxSEHqVrOAFrotzpVqeDCHPFHhr0QHVRXQb60-AGRJFcEZq79GOnc/s1600/ASpecialBlessingforSaraCoverArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8nUJfe7ZD_HxrFSK5x1fwNW2wvBayUdtmdH05ux_5Y8e4Czlt77IpIW8FLO95l1nkSpBCW6Q361N_f4Ottn_lWuxSEHqVrOAFrotzpVqeDCHPFHhr0QHVRXQb60-AGRJFcEZq79GOnc/s400/ASpecialBlessingforSaraCoverArt.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Special-Blessing-Sara-ebook/dp/B007ULU27S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352146299&sr=1-1&keywords=a+special+blessing+for+sara">http://www.amazon.com/A-Special-Blessing-Sara-ebook/dp/B007ULU27S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352146299&sr=1-1&keywords=a+special+blessing+for+sara</a></span></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></em> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">A Special Blessing for Sara</span></em><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> is a
gentle inspirational romance that in some ways is more reminiscent of women's
fiction with a strong romantic element.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sara is a caring, compassionate young woman who
is very good at her job as a counselor but is struggling a bit in her personal
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I did enjoy <em>A Special Blessing for Sara</em>. Sara's
close-knit family is very heartwarming, just the kind of family almost anyone
would love to have. The multiple romantic connections that occur for the other
single characters in the book was cute, and at least left me with a good
feeling about no one really getting left out in the cold. I especially loved
the way the people of the church reached out to help those in the community who
were without power during the storm, particularly ones who were the most
vulnerable, like the elderly. Readers who are averse to religious themes may
not care for this one, because the faith message is ever-present throughout the
narrative. I found it to be a gentle, organic part of the story and therefore,
not off-putting in any way, but others may feel differently<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Overall,
this was one of those really sweet, super-easy reads that makes you feel like
you've wrapped up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter's
day. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a simple, uncomplicated story
to relax and unwind from the stresses of life.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Note from reviewer:</span></span></strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange
for an honest review.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-51668634979784237552012-11-01T13:51:00.001-04:002012-11-01T13:51:32.879-04:00Short Story published in Wordsmith Journal<br />
"Moss" is a short story about an old woman living in Florida. Please read it at the following:<br />
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<a href="http://www.thewordsmithjournalmagazine.com/moss-by-june-bryan-belfie.html">http://www.thewordsmithjournalmagazine.com/moss-by-june-bryan-belfie.html</a><br />
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June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-78558327889925454302012-10-23T21:03:00.002-04:002012-11-18T09:44:43.954-05:00Hot off the Press! INN SANE - Memoirs of an Innkeeper<br />
<span style="color: #7f6000;">New book published about my life as an innkeeper in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. My husband Jim and I purchased a 38 room inn in 1976. Little did we know what we were getting into, but after transforming the old resort into a fashionable country inn, we experienced so many fascinating moments, I wanted to record them for posterity. Join me as I tell all!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf6OBbIU1BWIy2lmlznwrhrAU6BmNqxBbJHp-CKaMeK1iLG2xwxeXZNaztM5hsENY7X7rCBPFuf4KMmLmE8rl0lSdRSAv7ZbZNFPjGJePr9hTUo6tqPUlm1WLCBUGAYqYGqdFyw1Rpcs/s1600/Christina+and+PKI+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf6OBbIU1BWIy2lmlznwrhrAU6BmNqxBbJHp-CKaMeK1iLG2xwxeXZNaztM5hsENY7X7rCBPFuf4KMmLmE8rl0lSdRSAv7ZbZNFPjGJePr9hTUo6tqPUlm1WLCBUGAYqYGqdFyw1Rpcs/s400/Christina+and+PKI+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inn-Sane-June-Bryan-Belfie/dp/1479319902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351031649&sr=1-1&keywords=Inn+sane">http://www.amazon.com/Inn-Sane-June-Bryan-Belfie/dp/1479319902/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351031649&sr=1-1&keywords=Inn+sane</a><br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here is the first chapter for your reading pleasure. </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Be sure to order your copy today for the rest of the book. Based on fact - many names changed to protect identities.</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chapter One</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">First Thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">On the scale of one to ten - ten being the worst -
today is a nine-and-a-half.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A stomach virus has attacked three of the kids at
once. The washer and dryer have gone </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">non-stop as I change bed sheets and night
clothes. Leo, our cat, has been missing for three days, and the dishwasher
broke down last night. I’ve been too frazzled to call a repairman, so dirty
dishes are piling up in the sink. It’s the fifth day of rain. As I dump a load
of clothing on the floor for the washer, the phone rings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Junie, it’s me. How are the kids doing?” Mother’s
voice registers her grandmotherly concern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Well, Scott and Bryan kept some chicken noodle soup
down, but Jill is still throwing up. It’s a nightmare. How are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I feel fine, but I’m getting cabin fever. I was
hoping to go on a shopping expedition with you to the King of Prussia Mall, but
obviously, that’s out of the question.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Yeah, I’m afraid we will have to wait a few days for
that.” I confess to being secretly relieved not to have to go shopping. It
takes tremendous patience to shop with my mother. We have to check every store
before purchasing any item and then, almost without fail, we return it a week
later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After signing off, I loaded the washer again and added
detergent to my grocery list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Scott struts into the kitchen in his Phillie’s
baseball pajamas. “Mom, if I’m feeling better, can I go to the cub scout picnic
Saturday?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, Scott, I completely forgot. I have to make
cupcakes!” I scribbled “make cupcakes” on a paper napkin and turn back to my
son. “If you’re <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">totally</i> better by
Friday, yes, you may go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Hooray! Mom, I’m starving. Can I have a
cheeseburger?” My nine-year-old looks at me with his big dark raw-umber eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I reached over and hugged him. “Not a cheeseburger
yet, honey, but I can make you a poached egg.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">He nodded and sat at the table to wait, setting up two
dozen miniature soldiers in battle formation, while I prepare his eggs. The
shooting sounds coming out of his mouth reassure me the worst is over. While he
ate, I reached for my cupcake recipe and then remembered I’m out of sugar. Store-made
cupcakes will do just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Laurie, our 15-year-old came in the back door from
school with a load of books. “I think I’m next, Mom.” Her color resembled a
dish of cold oatmeal, and she decided against her normal snack. As she passed
me, I checked her forehead. I’m pretty good at guessing temperatures and she
definitely had a fever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I looked in on the other two children. Bryan, who is
nearly twelve, and Jill, our six-year-old were playing a game of gin rummy. No
one had thrown up for five hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was reassuring to know my husband, Jim, planned to
be home early from his insurance job. We might even have a quiet dinner by
ourselves after the kids are in bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Around eight, I put on Vivaldi and lit candles as we
settle down for warmed-over meatloaf with some burgundy wine. Jim seemed
quieter than usual. I glanced over at him and wondered if he might be coming
down with the virus. Instinctively, I reached across the table to feel his
forehead. Nope. Cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">He grinned at me with that ‘much too cute’ Italian
smile. “What’s that all about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Just checking, but you seem normal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“As normal as I can ever be, you mean?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">His chuckle reassured me for the moment. Then I
proceeded to fill him in on all the gory details of my day. “But how did your
day go, honey? I’ve been so busy talking about my problems, I forgot to ask
about you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, typical day. Same old stuff. Jack piled more
files on my desk. I also had to get photos on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">City Line Avenue</st1:address></st1:street> this morning. Big
accident claim.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Silence. I look over waiting for more details. He
appeared pre-occupied. “I detect there’s more going on in that head of yours. Is
anything wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I’m fine. It’s just…well, I realized today how long
I’ve been in the insurance business. It’s been eleven years and I basically do
the same thing every day. I'm really getting bored and don't find the work very
challenging.” He hesitated and looked at me with his chestnut-colored eyes for
a response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I nod and pour myself another glass of wine. This
conversation is going somewhere, but I’m not sure where. “Go on,” I offer,
secretly hoping he won’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Well, while I’m still young enough, I’d like to quit this
rat race and do something different and challenging. Actually maybe we could
find something to do together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I tried to sound calm, but inside I felt anything but.
“I know you aren’t happy at your job any more, but please, let’s not talk
tonight. My brain is total mush.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I guess my timing was poor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Yeah, very.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“I wasn’t going to bring it up tonight, but since you
asked–”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“My mistake. Let’s talk about it another time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“It’s just hard to deal with the monotony of the job.”
Jim put his hand on mine and smiled his sweetest smile – which doesn’t help me
a bit. “Thanks for listening, honey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, please
don’t ‘honey’ me. I need to remain detached.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was several days before I allowed myself to think
of what Jim was asking. Working for a large insurance company might be boring,
but it did offer health insurance, a company car, retirement benefits, and a
paycheck every two weeks. There’s a lot to be said for security. And what could
we do together and get paid for? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My talents are speedy diaper changing, canning
tomatoes, wiping runny noses, and stretching a pound of meat to feed six. What
do I know about making money? Besides, I enjoy my role as wife and mother. I
have gone through a difficult period after a divorce and raising four little
ones alone. Now after four years of marriage with Jim, many of our early
problems have been ironed out. We have a lovely 18<sup>th</sup> century
farmhouse on seven acres with a great vegetable garden. The kids have friends
and attend good schools – even the cats are happy. Yes, our stray has returned,
a little skinnier, but as ornery as ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">After years of neglecting my art, I’ve resumed
painting. I’m taking classes with Ed Lis, a wonderful teacher, and I have even
presented a one-woman show on the <st1:place w:st="on">Main Line</st1:place>. Do
I really want this change now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I have seen Jim’s lack of enthusiasm for his job, and
inwardly, I know he needs a challenge in his life. Since that night when he
brought this whole thing up, I can barely think of anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is several evenings later - the sun has shone most
of the day, the kids aren’t throwing up any more and my dishwasher is working
again - so I brought up the subject. Somehow it doesn’t seem all that
impossible now to take a step into uncharted waters. I agreed, at least, to consider
alternatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jim was delighted at the prospect of being his own
boss, and we began a daily discussion of ‘ifs’ and ‘what-ifs.’ Jim mentioned
running a day care center. I’m raising the four kids – five, every other
weekend – so his suggestion definitely does not strike me as a whole lot of
fun. Scratch that one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We researched the idea of owning and managing a
nursing home or retirement center, but we lack start-up money and experience,
and it would require far too much of my time: raising our young children
remains my life’s prime mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“How about artist and promoter?” Jim questioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Totally unrealistic. We’d starve in a month. What
about a fabric store?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jim grunted. “I can’t even walk into one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We considered a nursery – the green kind, but there
are too many in our area, and one recently closed. Nothing really hit us, but
it was fun to dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We reside in a lovely community, west of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:city></st1:place>, called
Westtown. Jim’s whole family lives in or near the city, and we enjoy getting
together with them for holidays and Sunday dinners. My mother, who divorced
after nearly forty years of marriage, is living in an apartment a couple of
miles from us and is coping with her situation. She needs to be near us. How
would a move, if necessary, affect everyone involved? There are so many
considerations. We decide not to discuss the changes which might take place
with the other family members until we are closer to a decision. Perhaps we
wouldn’t even have to move, so life could go on pretty much as always for the
rest of our loved ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s summertime. Spring and summer are absolutely
beautiful in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Chester</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and this year is
no exception. My days are filled with gardening, providing healthful meals for
the family, painting, and relaxing on our screened-in porch, which looks out on
fields and rolling hills. Laurie helped me prepare beans from the garden for
the freezer, and we’ve canned tomatoes – tons of them. Most late afternoons,
when Jim comes home from work, he changes his clothes and spends time weeding
and trimming. The garden is work, but we all enjoy the results of fresh
lettuce, corn on the cob (if we beat the raccoons), and the many other
vegetables. Jim has purchased a real tractor for cutting the fields. We enjoy
playing ‘homesteaders.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our stone l8th century home is my dream-house come
true. It has so much character with its four fireplaces, deep sills, and
six-paneled doors. Our family room is on the lowest of four levels. It had been
a summer kitchen and contains a large walk-in fireplace, still sporting its
original crane for hanging the old iron pots. It’s always cool down there and
during the heat of a three-digit summer day, we spend most of the afternoon
there – the kids playing or reading – while I catch up with the mending or
ironing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We have six gnarly old apple trees left from the
eighteenth century orchard growing behind the house. One of those apple trees
produces apples so large, that once I baked an eight-inch apple pie from one
apple! It made incredibly good apple sauce. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My clotheslines are strung between two of the trees
and I enjoy hanging the clothes in the fresh air. It has become my thing. It is
my “alone time – my thinking time.” I work on being organized – hanging pairs
of socks in order of size and arranging the towels by color – that sort of thing.
It prolongs the process, which is part of the reason I do it. It is my commune
with nature. It has nothing to do with saving money on the dryer. It’s just
something I enjoy doing. Would I have to give this up, too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jim and I have finally completed turning the top floor
attic into three bedrooms and a full bathroom for the children. We worked every
weekend through the winter doing the carpentry. We did hire professionals to do
the electrical and the plumbing, but the rest we tackled ourselves. Neither of
us had experience in carpentry, so I read aloud from a book about home
construction when we arrived at situations beyond our capability. In an old
home like ours, each stud had to be cut to fit, since nothing was level. We
wanted to preserve the house’s natural beauty, so we worked around existing
windows and alcoves, instead of replacing them. Nothing was plumb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now with this house project completed, we all enjoy
more privacy. Jim and I use the whole second floor for our bedroom, office,
sewing and art area. Bryan and Scott share a room, as they always have, on the
third floor. It works out most of the time even though their personalities
occasionally conflict. The girls, Laurie and Jill, each have their own room. Jim
has a daughter by a previous marriage and when Christina visits, she stays with
Jill. They are only three months apart in age and are very close. Christina has
fair complexion and dark brown hair and eyes, while Jill has reddish brown
hair. They are about the same size and frame. As soon as Christina arrives on
the week-ends, the two run off with their Barbie dolls or coloring books and
entertain each other. Having two brothers, they also like climbing trees and
playing hide-and-seek in the fields and woods surrounding the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The boys play baseball every afternoon, weather
permitting. Home base is situated under a large willow tree and the grass is
non-existent; just one of the consequences of raising healthy children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So now, since we are all settled into our home, the
children have scads of friends and I enjoy my life tremendously, it makes the
discussion of a move even more difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In spite of all this, Jim is growing more restless all
the time. Loving a challenge, I admit I am excited about the possibility of
working together at something new. We are still sort of newlyweds, and I love
having him home. It surprises me I would even consider a major life change, but
I am only in my thirties and nothing seems impossible at this tender age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in -0.25in 0pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We continue to talk and
dream. We’re considering many alternatives, but nothing strikes us as very
exciting or challenging. So we keep our thoughts on our mental back burners and
continue to live our lives normally </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">–</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> almost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-36446729649881484352012-09-21T09:57:00.001-04:002012-10-05T08:00:44.191-04:00Now available - A Long Way to Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyie_iXD8bAzh0jh0vHaFo1OhescPF1gIjCMB6TrDSdQQmnN1NkG6exbGesB-43u_SQrjUA_dYwJU-d73LvSGX8mHRl4JquSH5DGnnQF-U2RdqAV4TCZLDvVsNG8UVfNGUfM3mfhjcMc/s1600/pix+ALongWayToGoCoverArt72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyie_iXD8bAzh0jh0vHaFo1OhescPF1gIjCMB6TrDSdQQmnN1NkG6exbGesB-43u_SQrjUA_dYwJU-d73LvSGX8mHRl4JquSH5DGnnQF-U2RdqAV4TCZLDvVsNG8UVfNGUfM3mfhjcMc/s640/pix+ALongWayToGoCoverArt72dpi.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">A
bugle sent out a shrill warning that the party was about to take off. In the
distance, Rachel saw about ten wagons abreast slowly beginning the trek west.
Her heart began to pound even harder. Was it fear or excitement or a
combination? She couldn't be sure, but she reached over for Helen and held her
to her bosom, kissing the side of her head. "This is it, my darling. You'll
never remember any of this -- the trip of a lifetime. God, watch over us
all."<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">David helped Rachel and Helen up to the wagon seat and then stood
next to the wagon, holding the reins. Lucinda mounted one of the horses and
held the lead line tied to the other two. Lulu, the cow, pulled up the rear.
Josiah ran over to his father and grabbed hold of his arm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"Is this it? Are we really going?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">David patted him on the head. "It sure looks like it. You'll
have plenty of time to play when we camp, son. Do you wanna ride in the wagon
with your Mama or walk awhile?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"I wanna walk with you, Papa."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"I guess it'll be okay, as long as you to stay clear of the
wheels and the oxen. When you get tired, I'll set you up on the box in the
wagon, but you have to be very, very careful."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"I know. Mama's told me a hundred times."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Rachel looked down at her husband and smiled nervously. "This
is it."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"Yup. The start of something pretty special." He reached
over and patted her hand. "You won't be sorry, Rachel. I promise
you."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">She nodded and looked at her sister's wagon. Bess was resting her
head against Joe's chest.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>What
mixed emotions she must be feeling, leaving a fresh grave.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Friends had promised to place flowers
on each of the graves of their loved ones when the wildflowers bloomed. It
seemed like a small thing, but it meant a great deal to Rachel and Bess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<a href="http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-344/A-Long-Way-to/Detail.bok">http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-344/A-Long-Way-to/Detail.bok</a><br />
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<o:p><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #741b47;">
<a href="http://www.christianbook.com/a-long-way-to-go-ebook/june-belfie/9781612522173/pd/33103EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=33103EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP">http://www.christianbook.com/a-long-way-to-go-ebook/june-belfie/9781612522173/pd/33103EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=33103EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-long-way-to-go-june-bryan-belfie/1112975132?ean=2940015709919">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-long-way-to-go-june-bryan-belfie/1112975132?ean=2940015709919</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Long-Way-Go-ebook/dp/B009EJ1NM2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348229782&sr=1"><span style="color: #741b47;">http://www.amazon.com/A-Long-Way-Go-ebook/dp/B009EJ1NM2/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348229782&sr=1</span></a><span style="color: #741b47;">-</span>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-1024937612672502322012-09-11T10:24:00.000-04:002012-09-11T10:24:19.817-04:00Welcome Shaunna Gonzales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRLRFrzXxhe2jvzHXf-dJAluojqiJJJxNYzffjhJnb0yHYulZvum2BgKOy7iEH7GemhalRM-aSseTlbtp7BoeMmNdlX97o7T8ZdEubjHRS70GPKMCAa0npgvuCXdVwGQkG8Ui0QBqcvo/s1600/DarkDaysofPromiseCoverArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRLRFrzXxhe2jvzHXf-dJAluojqiJJJxNYzffjhJnb0yHYulZvum2BgKOy7iEH7GemhalRM-aSseTlbtp7BoeMmNdlX97o7T8ZdEubjHRS70GPKMCAa0npgvuCXdVwGQkG8Ui0QBqcvo/s400/DarkDaysofPromiseCoverArt.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong>I'm honored to have Shaunna visit this week with me. A fellow novelist with Desert Breeze, she has a new book out this month. Great cover!</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong>Please tell us about your book.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri;">Thirty-four year
old Vicki Laramie must learn to trust before she can love, but she might die
trying.</span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IXupFGWVrAr71RsBAX7xUo5op38FzdOiEMkfJUGO5JuJrUlwtrp6yxzRvQC1Sn06UdHFVSnP7i1NWXU_-bdlmsAYoW2Om2LDWJK3TxozvYfth-zDj8eX0ec4DcM2fa7n_adrtkKdJUg/s1600/th_Shaunna-0080%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IXupFGWVrAr71RsBAX7xUo5op38FzdOiEMkfJUGO5JuJrUlwtrp6yxzRvQC1Sn06UdHFVSnP7i1NWXU_-bdlmsAYoW2Om2LDWJK3TxozvYfth-zDj8eX0ec4DcM2fa7n_adrtkKdJUg/s320/th_Shaunna-0080%5B1%5D.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #38761d;">While Vicki’s children grapple with the death of their
father -- a man whom she’s successfully fabricated as loving, a lie her
rebellious teenager recognizes -- she must find a way to support her family and
find a role model for her boys. She never intends to fall for Staff Sergeant
Chase, her best friend’s son, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). She’d much rather choose a safer man to love, but her children have a
voice in the decision she makes. With two deaths to deal with, a suitor after
her money, a rebellious son, and Sergeant Chase’s repeated attacks, she can
only hope to survive the danger she faces. If she doesn’t, her children will be
left without either parent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Calibri;">Link to buy: </span><a href="http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-345/Dark-Days-of-Promise/Detail.bok"><span style="color: #38761d;">http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-345/Dark-Days-of-Promise/Detail.bok</span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">ISBN: <b>978-1-61252-218-0</b>
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Please give us an excerpt from <u>Dark Days of Promise</u></span></span></strong></span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;">"Do you
trust me?"</span></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;">"Do I have
a choice?" I whispered.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;">With the
mistletoe still in hand, he placed it at the back of my head. His fingers
entwined in my hair. My heart accelerated its beating dance, knowing a much
more euphoric rush would accompany his kiss. More than his first visit, more
than his peck on my cheek, more...A warm quiver of anticipation settled over
me, fixing me to the spot. The music from the movie in the next room swelled,
intensifying the moment. His lips brushed mine, hinting of gingerbread and
milk. I wondered if I'd ever experienced such a kiss. The gentle, warm, sweet
pressure, invited me to live in the moment. An experience I'd never known in
all my years with another...I couldn't even remember his name. My adrenalin
roller coaster revved its engine in my stomach before climbing with massive
force in an upward motion before dropping to my deepest core. Yet it didn't
last long enough. He no sooner released me than I had the distinct feeling of
his reclaiming every intimate emotion he'd shared with me.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;">"I
shouldn't stay. It's not safe for you." He withheld his smile, his eyes
hinting at something I didn't understand.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Best of luck with your sales. It sounds like a great romance novel!</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></div>
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June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-29942808654721109662012-08-18T17:00:00.001-04:002012-09-03T11:50:10.087-04:00Kindle Romance Novels: The Landlord by June Bryan Belfie<a href="http://www.kindleromancenovels.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-landlord-by-june-bryan-belfie.html#links">Kindle Romance Novels: The Landlord by June Bryan Belfie</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduRrYiMwOvYMq8LH4kPv6q1WDLRC_duYyXy0KkaYxmgHulPvd1ES_2oqkAQRzXZGBzzOCyV2dg_PDWjo8w5GRi2DZdNHGfGW22qpjB3AWHCHswx6PlzRl9L8bVCPVhyYWR2zwNPsIG3Q/s1600/TheLandlordCoverArt72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduRrYiMwOvYMq8LH4kPv6q1WDLRC_duYyXy0KkaYxmgHulPvd1ES_2oqkAQRzXZGBzzOCyV2dg_PDWjo8w5GRi2DZdNHGfGW22qpjB3AWHCHswx6PlzRl9L8bVCPVhyYWR2zwNPsIG3Q/s640/TheLandlordCoverArt72dpi.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-2443007211925491922012-07-07T13:57:00.000-04:002012-07-07T13:57:16.948-04:00A visitor to our garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDnYPWpDrLBTGYDaHeIssFBkCTaSpkMsh5feyTr5aRIVo4SmpkRIBdpVc0eiUF1nAg3-0NFoEl93EcrZpBSLnx_OP3MW51lhRbeAIMDAvw0AL2cfy3Q1HBYcWlkOLHWBvAV4Z2hnkyT0/s1600/garden+July+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDnYPWpDrLBTGYDaHeIssFBkCTaSpkMsh5feyTr5aRIVo4SmpkRIBdpVc0eiUF1nAg3-0NFoEl93EcrZpBSLnx_OP3MW51lhRbeAIMDAvw0AL2cfy3Q1HBYcWlkOLHWBvAV4Z2hnkyT0/s400/garden+July+2012+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-23240914150942299822012-06-22T11:16:00.002-04:002012-08-26T06:28:30.184-04:00Tina Pinson - Author<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Welcome, Tina. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and sharing some of your thoughts with us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRGfHdHVfuDXfXP55RoQgLlNiXB3alEG7rbDgUcmTOG0gaflNB4y_703ktPRY6D00mPUsuZNm1ymrpqmLqCyj5Lc9-UdniTiVG0isUgMs3Du6Zdr68YlJrju42Qypq7yoXoPEdjjicjQ/s1600/Tina+Pinson+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRGfHdHVfuDXfXP55RoQgLlNiXB3alEG7rbDgUcmTOG0gaflNB4y_703ktPRY6D00mPUsuZNm1ymrpqmLqCyj5Lc9-UdniTiVG0isUgMs3Du6Zdr68YlJrju42Qypq7yoXoPEdjjicjQ/s200/Tina+Pinson+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">First, my readers might like to know why you write. Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I
love to tell stories. As a girl I used to get in trouble for telling stories, so
writing gives me an outlet to use my imagination. I prefer fiction, of
course.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">When did you begin to write?</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> I started writing in elementary school.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">How did you get your first
break as a writer?</span> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Actually, Desert Breeze gave me my first real break
two years ago. I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>turned in a three stories and Gail chose two.
So here I am. And I appreciate it immensely. I had tried to self publish and
that didn't pan out like I hoped.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">How much time to you spend in
preparation? In actual writing? In editing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The
time I spend in preparation depends on the book, and whether I need to
research, but usually, I start my book and write through it, researching as I
go. Actual writing time, could take a few months or a year or more. Editing…
can I just say ugh? But it has to be done. That can take a few weeks or longer.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Who is your best critic? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I
don't know that I have a best critic. I know I'm my worst one.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">What is your writing space
like?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">I have an office, but a lot of times I sit in my chair
with my laptop. Mostly, I write out by hand so I use my #3 pencil and notebook
and write away, then type it in.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Time wise - do you write
daily? Weekly?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">I try to write daily. It depends on the day
though. But weekly for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Do you wait for inspiration?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Yes…
which comes up meaning times in my dreams. Waking and sleeping.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Okay, do you start with
coffee as so many writers do? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Tea,
English style with cream and honey. I used to do coffee, but started getting
too many jitters if I drank too much.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">What is your goal -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>long term? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">To
leave a legacy of writing that touches peoples lives long after I'm gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Any advise to wanna-be's? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Hang
in there. Write your heart. Use the imagination God gave you. Use your writer's
voice and make it sing. Don't let anyone take it away from you.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="color: #a64d79;">Thanks for sharing, Tina. May
God bless your endeavors</span>.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0fDFox1Qj4A2gBtJVdJi9WU_6GDKV4lHPT-cDGE8TNNUTOH0945VaEUziHs99_8PynLNvOHrvE_iPHZd6J597rkSoXcIgCRIuWtjmjoA_O1oFlavMxHhCc6Z3Gxo8OqyxWGC4y7HkXA/s1600/WhenShadowsFallCover%23719016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0fDFox1Qj4A2gBtJVdJi9WU_6GDKV4lHPT-cDGE8TNNUTOH0945VaEUziHs99_8PynLNvOHrvE_iPHZd6J597rkSoXcIgCRIuWtjmjoA_O1oFlavMxHhCc6Z3Gxo8OqyxWGC4y7HkXA/s320/WhenShadowsFallCover%23719016.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> <span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Blurb
-- <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The
Civil War rages, and Rebekah fights to keep her world intact. Loss and sorrow
seeps into her heart. Her sights on Oregon, she prays New Eden will be a place
of peace for her and her son. A refuge. She travels to Missouri to start her
journey and is denied the opportunity to join the train. Matthew battles his
way through the war thinking of Rebekah, planning to help her west. He fears
his biggest battle lies ahead. Will Rebekah open up her heart and allow him to
be the one to hold her When the Shadows Fall?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">My website -- </span></span><a href="http://www.tinapinson.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">http://www.tinapinson.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Twitter:@Tina_Pinson</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Facebook--
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103</a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Purchase my books at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Desert Breeze Bookstore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">Touched By Mercy - </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/0rgkm"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">http://tiny.cc/0rgkm</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">In the Manor of the Ghost </span><a href="http://tiny.cc/we4ul"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">http://tiny.cc/we4ul</span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">When Shadow Fall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/d93p77"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: small;">http://tinyurl.com/d93p77</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">a<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">Excerpt:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Matthew
drew up his legs, rested his arms on his knees, and tucked his head on his
arms. The sapling straightened in relief. The sweat beaded and ran a line down
his back; he was too busy visiting with Rebekah to care.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Where
was she now? How was she? Nathan promised to keep him informed, but so far, no
word had arrived. It worried him. If he had the time -- if he hadn't joined up
-- he'd look into things himself, but he wouldn't have leave 'til November. He
was beginning to doubt he'd make it till then.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Mr.
Cavanaugh." Hearing his name, Matthew stood up, brushing his backside.
"Mr. Cavanaugh." A young private scanned the area, searching for him.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Here."
Matthew waved and headed toward the messenger.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Mr.
Cavanaugh." The private studied Matthew's attire, then saluted and tried
to catch his breath. "Captain St. James would like to see you in his
quarters, sir."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Will
that be all, Private?" Sweat beaded on the young man's forehead. It
dislodged and rolled with his nod. Matthew swiped his own brow. "If you've
nothing further to do, maybe you should head down to the stream. I think I see
an empty spot."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Yes,
sir." The private started to run then stopped and saluted.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">The
private headed for the stream and crammed himself in the small space. Matthew
went in search of Nathan.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Nathan."
He stopped outside the tent.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Come
in." From behind his desk, over a stack of papers, Nathan looked up at his
friend. "Glad you could come by. We don't see enough of each other."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Probably
has something to do with this war," Matthew said lightheartedly.</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Nathan's face devoid of
emotion, he nodded. "You just get back?"</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Matthew nodded and
plucked at his shirt. "Haven't cleaned up. I'm surprised you can get</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">this close without
gagging." Matthew smiled... Nathan didn't. Something was wrong. Matthew
took a seat on Nathan's cot, and studied his friend.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Nathan
looked healthy enough. A little tired. Weren't they all? Nathan's
double-breasted coat with blue velvet cuffs and collar, was slightly worn, but
he dressed impeccably in spite of it. From his regulation haircut, right down
to the shine on his black Wellingtons, he looked like a true career soldier.
What was amiss?</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"I
know you haven't given your report, but I wanted your assessment of the
situation." Nathan looked up long enough for Matthew to glimpse the pain
in Nathan's brown eyes.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #741b47;">"It
doesn't look good. But you know that. We aren't going to hold Harper's Ferry,
and Lee knows it. He's determined to make a stand here." Matthew</span> <span style="color: #741b47;">sighed.
"It was nothing short of a miracle to find Lee's orders in Frederick and
it's to our benefit Lee has his army divided with us sitting right between 'em.
Let's hope, McClellan will use that advantageously. But this won't be a minor
skirmish and it can't be stopped. Over a hundred thousand men are in those fields
-- itching to fight."</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"So,
when it does come -- and it will. Soon. -- It will be nothing short of hell on
earth. I just pray we hold the line. Pray we hold Maryland." Matthew
barely nodded. "That's about all I can say."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">The
table wobbled as Nathan moved from behind it. His stack of papers shifted as if</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">caught by a breeze -- a
ghost breeze the whole camp was looking for. Nodding solemnly, he took a seat
on the cot. It creaked and bowed under the weight of both men.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"I
wouldn't tell this to another soul, but I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'm not going to
make it through this next battle. I feel it, Matt. I can't even tell
Sara."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Matthew
understood the feeling. It tormented him too, tormented them all. "It's
nothing to be ashamed of. Only a fool would say he wasn't afraid. You'll make
it home."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Tears
formed in Nathan's eyes. "This feeling is awful strong. And how long will
home be there?</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Don't
talk like that, Nate. We'll hold the line." Matthew fought to hold his
tears. "You won't die. You can't." </span><i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I won't let you.</span></i><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Nathan
met Matthew's eyes directly. "But if I did. I couldn't without you knowing
how much you mean to me. You're like a brother. I count it a privilege to call
you friend."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"And
I you," Matthew choked the words, tried to swallow the pit in the back of
his throat. It felt as if his heart lodged there. The two men hugged and cried
like mere babes. Somewhere amid the pain, they both found a smile. They pulled
apart slapping each other's arms softly.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"About
that bath," Nathan teased and covered a snigger with his hand. He dusted
Matthew's shirt before he grew serious again. "Matt, I know I've hounded
you about the Lord and your eternal soul, but I couldn't bear to have you go
into this next battle without telling you again of God's love. I've been
praying for you. Praying you'd accept the gift of God's grace. Praying you'll
be okay. I want to know if I do die, I'll be able to see you again."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Nathan's
sincerity touched Matthew. True, he'd told him all this before, but knowing at
this moment in time Nathan prayed for him, humbled him. "I know,"
Matthew's voice broke. "I know I've always told you, I'll think about. And
I do. It's on my mind more than ever. I'm glad you pray for me. Don't
stop."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Ah,
Matt. I call you brother now because you're dear to me. One day I hope to call
you so 'cause you know the Lord. I won't stop praying." Nathan squeezed
Matthew's shoulder.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"I'm
glad." Matthew smiled.</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"I should let you clean up before
you give your report, but I'll see you there."</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Until this
afternoon then." Matthew turned to leave and Nathan stopped him.</span><span style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">"Wait, this might
interest you." Nathan pulled an envelope from his pocket. He handed it</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">to Matthew with a wink.
"It came while you were gone. Don't worry about getting it back to me. You
keep it."</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Matthew
stepped out of the tent and turned the envelope in his hands. After a month,
word had finally come from Rebekah. Matthew stuck the letter in his pocket;
he'd read it once he'd cleaned.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt;">Changed
and shaved, he settled back on his cot half an hour later and opened Rebekah's
letter. It didn't matter it wasn't addressed to him, all that mattered was
knowing she was okay.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-24024851818302857022012-05-21T17:25:00.000-04:002012-08-26T06:31:56.584-04:00New Interview with Author, Fran Fernandez<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">This week I'm interviewing a fellow writer, friend, and
lover of God, Fran Fernandez. Fran is a minister, teacher, speaker and writer.
She is also the pastor of Prince of Peace Church in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Seaford</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place>.</span></div>
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I met Fran several years ago at a writer's conference in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Montrose</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state></st1:place>.
We correspond frequently and pray for each other. She's been a blessing in my
life and we plan to spend eternity together, along with our other Christian
friends and family members.</span><br />
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</v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Calibri;">Fran Fernandez is freelance writer of magazine and newspaper
articles, has inclusions in several anthologies. She’s a pastor, speaks at
conferences, luncheons and retreats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s married for 49 Years to her husband Frank, has three children, and
eight grandchildren. Her passion is the Lord and His word. Fran loves in
whatever medium is available to let people know how much the Lord loves them
and bids them to abide in His secret place—tailored fashioned just for them. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:Pop496@aol.com"><span style="color: blue;">Pop496@aol.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Web site and blog: </span><a href="http://www.francesfernandez.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.francesfernandez.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0sKNXtE8WMWc2kcfg2ESKsebdEY3YBo2_tqcXjkDiZiweVXhIPuDtX6iP0zPYuVxRiA7Bfi9POTnjyrQqyTOfhDTfmXUh7bRURXpDUuhTDfc0fGK4Z4PkCRwMaqFDdlNqGVS94AsHkM/s1600/final%2520cover%2520pix%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0sKNXtE8WMWc2kcfg2ESKsebdEY3YBo2_tqcXjkDiZiweVXhIPuDtX6iP0zPYuVxRiA7Bfi9POTnjyrQqyTOfhDTfmXUh7bRURXpDUuhTDfc0fGK4Z4PkCRwMaqFDdlNqGVS94AsHkM/s400/final%2520cover%2520pix%5B1%5D" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Best is Yet to Come</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HjkmpU3Mh_P01JSG41i_7qCM30kvENZ_50jQeI_Ugj4dXMsOA4nldkXnHRJZdf2QntMqKLctjeYBvnA6MVPlW6-WlOBb1EF4SLbDGZ7e4ntPGHbu-iBqEKDSmkubk_yLFhsOfvL6m8Y/s1600/fran+pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HjkmpU3Mh_P01JSG41i_7qCM30kvENZ_50jQeI_Ugj4dXMsOA4nldkXnHRJZdf2QntMqKLctjeYBvnA6MVPlW6-WlOBb1EF4SLbDGZ7e4ntPGHbu-iBqEKDSmkubk_yLFhsOfvL6m8Y/s1600/fran+pix.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: 13.5pt;">Hungering for more of God?</span><em>
The Best is Yet to Come</em> is a go-deeper-higher devotional for women wanting
more from their time spent with God. Sixty devos filled with the word, biblical
and real life examples help light the way to the secret place. Each one comes
with a targeted prayer and personal challenge to help apply it to your daily
life. He's waiting!<br />
<br />
Beautiful hardcover released by Zondervan. Available signed and discounted
by author for $8 plus shipping: @ <a href="mailto:Pop496@aol.com"><span style="color: blue;">Pop496@aol.com</span></a>
or through PayPal on website.<br />
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<u><strong>Fran, </strong></u><strong><u>What inspires you most as a
writer?<o:p></o:p></u></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">As a child I loved to read and I still remember some books I loved such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Little Women </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Coat of Many Colors</i>. I loved the Nancy Drew mysteries and
wanted to be a detective just like her. And as I grew older God spoke to me
through books which eventually led to me coming to know Him.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Also when I read a good book, or saw movies and shows that made me felt so
good inside, I longed to write something that would bring people joy and
meaning to people’s life. Now with the Lord in my life, I have the Source of
all joy and meaning which I can share in my writing. </span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Do you write every day? How often,
if not daily? <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Because
I am in full time ministry, I can’t write every day. But, I generally do
something writing related, such as working on the promotion of my book (which
is lifetime job), keeping in contact with agent, sprucing up proposals, and
researching new markets for my proposals (I have four looking for a home)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read writing magazines looking for new markets,
and seeing what is new in the Christian market, and to further hone my craft.
However, I know that once I get a publisher for a proposal it will be writing
daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Describe part of the research
process it took to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best is Yet
to Come</i>.<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best is Yet to Come </i>is
a devotional book, the main research is my bible reading and my walk with God.
Having said that—I now say that I have a file with favorite bible verses,
special things that I have heard or read, notes of things that God has done in
my life. I also record personal insights God has given me, or of others. I have
a file with inspiring stories of people from newspapers, magazines etc.,
knowing one day they will make a great illustration for God’s word to get
across to someone. </span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>How did you experience
breakthrough to work with the big publishing houses?<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Through going to writer’s conferences – setting up meetings with editors,
authors, networking with writers, editors etc.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Also, getting an agent helps. But, having said that, I now say that I had
already made the connection to an editor at Zondervan through another editor
from Zondervan who was at Montrose Christian Writers conference; when she saw
my work, she told me to use her name when I sent my proposal. So when I got an
agent I gave her that connection and she followed through.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Share one tip you would like to
give to a writer trying to break into the Christian market.<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">One tip – the most important one – and then I’ll sneak in a second one. The
biggest and most important tip to breaking into the Christian market is that
you would wrap everything you do in a relationship with God, prayer, reading
His word, and keep asking along the way for wisdom and insight into what to
write. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">For how can we give out without getting it in first?</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Having said that my second tip is – Never Give Up! If you have a desire and
a heart to write something either for children or adults – I believe that God
has put it in your heart and He will make a way for it, if you don’t give up.
It goes without saying that you have to perfect your craft along the way; you
must go to Christian writer’s conferences, for that is where you will meet
others who have broken into the markets, and those to whom you can present your
work to get into the market. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Keep writing, and writing, and rewriting, and then do it again. Always have
something going around to possible markets. Always be looking for someplace to
send your query or manuscript should it come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">What is the most satisfying part of
your writing experience?</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">The most satisfying part of writing, hands down, is having someone email
you, call you, or tell you face to face, that they were touched of God, or
found a new truth in the Bible, or God spoke to them through your words. It
doesn’t get any better than that! ! </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Thanks so much for sharing with my readers, Fran. As a personal note, I've read and re-read Fran's wonderful devotional and highly recommend it. I know God will continue to bless you, Fran, as well as you books.</span><br />
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June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-64077918822450666822012-05-14T09:49:00.001-04:002012-08-26T06:39:28.673-04:00Author Christina Freeburn<strong><span style="font-size: large;">This week I'd like you to meet another fellow writer at Desert Breeze - Christina Freeburn, who has a new book out in electronic form called <u><span style="color: #a64d79;">Led Astray</span></u></span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdSgNmfmRYoGuow9LBL5bsS_Nl6pXNBIcC3y4_r9bYNmpqYP4qNOY8RJe6KYpWee9hh989jAQyOldwvD2pXb-BE0YKdLC270Y98VH-sUQNXIVk7TWG-M4G9KcoK3bjEjlLrcpFAsrnnQ/s1600/Christina+Bio002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdSgNmfmRYoGuow9LBL5bsS_Nl6pXNBIcC3y4_r9bYNmpqYP4qNOY8RJe6KYpWee9hh989jAQyOldwvD2pXb-BE0YKdLC270Y98VH-sUQNXIVk7TWG-M4G9KcoK3bjEjlLrcpFAsrnnQ/s320/Christina+Bio002.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I guess the first thing I'll ask is why do you write and do you prefer writing fiction or non-fiction?<span style="color: #7030a0;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #7030a0;"></span><span style="color: #e36c0a;"> <span style="color: #a64d79;"> I write fiction. I enjoy making things up better. It's
also why I create fictional towns rather than setting my stories in real ones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chris, when did you
begin to write?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"> <span style="color: #a64d79;"> I was in the ninth grade when I started
writing. The bus ride to school was 3o minutes long so a friend and I
entertained ourselves by working on a teenage romance together. She got tired
of the project after a few months, but for me it started a love of writing.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">How much time to
you spend in preparation? In actual writing? In editing? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"> <span style="color: #a64d79;"> It depends on the book, but I've noticed the more time I
spend preparing, (like outlining) , the less time I need for writing and editing
as the story is already built in my head and I know the characters better.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"> <span style="color: black;">That sounds like good advise and who would you say is your best critic?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> <span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">I don't know if I have a best critic, but I
do know I am my own worst critic which is probably why I surround myself with advisors and cheerleaders. Unfortunately, I carry a critic around with me. I'm really good at seeing what isn't working, so I need advisors that will help me see what is working. That makes it easier for me to go back and fix the places where I've written the characters into a corner or got them off track.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is your
writing space like?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> A mess. Right now, my office is in a large closet that is off of the craft room area. My oldest daughter got married last summer and we're finishing up moving her out (her stuff at least) and that will soon become my office. I plan on going with a Disney and library theme as I have plenty of books and Disney (Mickey Mouse) items.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">That sounds like fun. Time wise - do
you write daily? Weekly? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> I write daily.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Do you wait for
inspiration? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> No,</span> <span style="color: #a64d79;">though it is a less of a struggle
to get the words out when I'm inspired.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">If I wait to work on the story only when
I'm inspired, there would be days or even</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">weeks when I wouldn't get anything
done. Sometimes other areas of my life can get</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">hectic and it does drain the
creativity but I still have to sit and get a few words</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">added.</span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Most writers need a start-up, do you
begin with coffee? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> Coffee is a must</span>. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: black;">(Ah, a girl after my own heart, says June)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> And I've also
discovered that I'm more focused and the creativity flows better </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> If I </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">workout
in the morning.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span> (Just lost me, </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Chris)</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> What is your goal -long term? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> Right now, my long-term goal is to keep writing books
that I love and have a </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> message to empower and encourage. I try not to make
goals that can put me in a </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> place where I feel like I've failed. A lot of what
happens (like trying to have specific</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> selling target) is out of our hands. No matter
how hard or how much time is spent </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> on marketing, promoting, and getting better
at our craft, the outcome is one that can </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> be planned.</span><span style="color: #e36c0a;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Any advice to wanna-be's? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: #a64d79;">Celebrate
but don't compare journeys to publication. There is a different path for</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">everyone. What will work for one writer's unique situation and season in life won't</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">work for another. Keep writing. Keep reading. And most importantly, keep
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">believing.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thanks so much for visiting here at my blog. I wish you the very best in your journey through life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Excerpt:</span></strong><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Now,
Pastor, I wouldn't make such a hasty decision." Mr. Kline pulled out
another card and reached around Riley to place it on the desk. "Talk to
the members of your church." <br />
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"I know their feelings on destroying the beauty God created." Riley
picked up the card and started to tear it in half. <br />
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Mr. Kline gripped his wrist and squeezed, stopping Riley from completing the
tearing motion. "Jobs are scarce in this community. There aren't many
other companies wanting to bring other employment opportunities to this
backwoods place." <br />
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Naomi gasped. Riley motioned for her to stay behind him. <br />
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"Pastor Coole, is something wrong?" A woman's soft voice drifted from
the doorway. <br />
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Riley turned, and his breath caught in his throat. The heart-shaped face of an
angel appeared through the slight opening. Lips lined in pink stood out from a
smooth complexion. She stepped into the office and a questioning expression
filled the sweet, young face as large green eyes focused on him and blinked.
Once. Twice. <br />
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Thomas Kline's attention also turned toward the young woman, and the man raked
a leer over her body. Riley clenched his fists. The young woman flipped strands
of her unnatural colored hair, a hue resembling a brand new rising sunset, over
her shoulders. Curls surrounded her neck and cascaded down her back, a cloak of
multitude colors. <br />
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"Now who do we have here, Pastor." Kline stepped toward the woman.
"You sure do like to have an array of woman about." <br />
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"And you like to ignore the word 'no.'" The woman strode forward,
confident and menacing, the angel persona vanishing. <br />
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Kline took one long step forward and stood face-to-face with the spitfire.
"What makes any of this your business?" <br />
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"From what I know, I was asked to be here, and you weren't." <br />
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Kline reached for the woman's arms. "I'm advising you to leave." <br />
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She jerked away. "Or what?" <br />
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Riley stepped between them, confusion revving his heart rate and causing his
thoughts to swirl. Who was this woman, and why did she show up now? This wasn't
a lost soul who stumbled onto the church and sought directions. This woman
intended to be here, meant to wage war with Kline. Why? <br />
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"This conversation is over, Mr. Kline," Riley said. "The
communities have no desire to sell any of the property to Peake Mining or
anyone else. <br />
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"I wouldn't be too sure about, Pastor." <br />
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"I'm sure," Riley said. <br />
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"I think I'll poll the towns and see what they have to say." <br />
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"I wouldn't advise it," the woman said. <br />
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"Don't be making threats you can't back, little lady." The man cast
one last look at the bold woman in front of him then headed for the door. <br />
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"Don't be foolish enough to think I can't." <br /><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ******</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Sounds like a page-turner, Chris. Blessings.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christina
Freeburn<br />
</span><a href="http://www.christinafreeburn.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yiv437378976yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.christinafreeburn.com</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-size: small;">
<i>Lost Then Found</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Led
Astray</span></i><span style="color: black;"> -- May 1, <span class="yiv437378976yshortcuts">2012</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="yiv437378976yshortcuts"><i><span style="color: black;">Stories of Hope and a Future</span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;">http://theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-32791907212702886912012-04-16T09:26:00.000-04:002012-04-16T09:26:48.913-04:00My New Christian Romance Novel -now available!<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Sara Wilson, a Christian counselor who also helps with the youth group at
church, needs advise herself deciding between two men -- or is it three? An
unexpected event makes her decision clear and a long-held secret is exposed,
which brings Sara a special blessing that changes her life.</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div>
In Stock - Desert Breeze Publishing House</div>
Price: <span class="small_price">$5.99</span><br />
<br />
<span class="small_price">Also available through Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Special-Blessing-Sara-ebook/dp/B007ULU27S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1334582444&sr=8-3">http://www.amazon.com/A-Special-Blessing-Sara-ebook/dp/B007ULU27S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1334582444&sr=8-3</a></span><br />
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<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>EXCERPT</strong> <br /><br />After the children were tucked in for the
night, the men gathered in the living room to watch an NFL playoff game. They
joked and made predictions about which teams would go to the Super Bowl.
<br /><br />The women cleaned up the kitchen after dinner and then went into the
dining room. They sat around sipping coffee, visiting, and nibbling on homemade
cookies. <br /><br />"Sara, you've lost a lot of weight. Was it intentional?" Tina,
who had just turned twenty-six, spoke with concern in her voice. <br /><br />"No,
not really, although I don't mind being thinner. I've just lost my appetite."
<br /><br />"Since you and Jeremy broke up?" Leslie, the middle sister, asked.
<br /><br />"I guess. It hasn't been easy." Sara felt her throat tighten, and she
made every effort to look nonchalant. <br /><br />"He's such a jerk. You're the best
thing that ever happened to him," Tina remarked, tossing her long black braid
behind her shoulder. <br /><br />"Well now, girls, Sara might not want to talk about
this now. Maybe it was for the best," Joan suggested. "I'm sure there will be
another man for her. God will send the right one." <br /><br />"I thought he was the
right one, Mom," Sara admitted, finally allowing her tears to escape.
<br /><br />"Oh, honey, I'm sorry we upset you." Her mother came over and sat in the
empty chair next to her and patted her arm. "You don't have to talk about it."
<br /><br />"Mom, let her talk. She needs to get it out," Leslie said. <br /><br />Bob's
wife, Lori, nodded in agreement. "We're here for you, if you want to talk."
<br /><br />"I know you are, and I appreciate all of you. I don't know what
happened. I mean we were getting along so well, talking about a wedding date,
until he started getting picky about everything. I couldn't do anything right.
He claimed I was too wrapped up in my work. Maybe I was, but I tried not to
discuss my job. Then he said I was getting heavy--" <br /><br />"You? Heavy? Give me
a break." Tina let out a moan. <br /><br />"Let her talk, Tina," Leslie chided.
<br /><br />"Sorry. Go on, Sara. I'll be quiet." <br /><br />Sara smiled at her sister.
"That's okay, I needed to hear it wasn't true. I was beginning to feel pretty
low about myself. He also corrected my grammar sometimes, as if--" <br /><br />"Now
I know you're kidding. You have perfect grammar," Ginny, her other
sister-in-law, exclaimed. <br /><br />"Well, it's not perfect, but neither was he.
At least I didn't scold him every time his breath smelled like garlic."
<br /><br />The five women laughed. "Way to go, girl," Ginny encouraged.
<br /><br />"Anyway, we started arguing about everything. I mean everything. My
clothes, his haircuts, our meals, and especially about... " Sara hesitated and
looked around her. <br /><br />"Sex?" Tina filled in. <br /><br />"Yeah, or lack
thereof," Sara admitted, embarrassed this conversation was taking place in front
of her mother. <br /><br />"Sara. You didn't... " Her mother looked close to tears.
<br /><br />"No, Mom. That was the problem. He kept pushing me, and I kept
resisting." <br /><br />"He's a Christian man. He knows better," her mother
proclaimed. <br /><br />"Hate to tell you this, Mom," Tina interjected, "but even
some Christian guys want sex." <br /><br />
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</div>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-73271417429532099312012-04-02T07:00:00.000-04:002012-04-15T16:22:12.562-04:00An interview with Joan Leotta - writer, storyteller and a Godly woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaigL1-38zOEe0v28jbkYQNi5XHt9mPiJndqSI5lucKvoPA1Yy9qgaDP9sfS8NKOd3HZnp-tFAVhdrMNH5YVlW73dhBzs4DeVqLDvTjS-lH7JpHYkUXYxm-875XsUciYXCLMMJFEzqTdQ/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaigL1-38zOEe0v28jbkYQNi5XHt9mPiJndqSI5lucKvoPA1Yy9qgaDP9sfS8NKOd3HZnp-tFAVhdrMNH5YVlW73dhBzs4DeVqLDvTjS-lH7JpHYkUXYxm-875XsUciYXCLMMJFEzqTdQ/s400/image001.jpg" width="400" /></a><strong>Joan Leotta, Storyteller, Spoken Word Artist, and Author</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Hi, everyone. This week, Joan Leotta, a fellow writer with
Desert Breeze, is kind enough to join me on my blog.</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Joan, the first thing
I always ask, is why do you write? Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I write because I love to share what I have found out and I
use writing also to explore new worlds of fact and emotion. Storytelling is a
big part of my life—performance, oral telling, and writing. I guess this is
true since when I was a child, I would scribble “Sentences” and then “read”
them to anyone who would listen.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You've almost
answered my last question, since I would like to know when you started writing?
(More than scribbles.)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As a child. For money, when I was 14—a national magazine
published a poem of mine and paid. After leaving my job as an analyst for the
government to stay home and raise my children, I began my career as a freelance
writer (non-fiction mostly).</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How did you get your
first break as a writer?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Persistence. I kept after an editor until I had a topic he
wanted and then sent him the article “on spec” (That means he could toss it out
if he did not like it and would not owe me anything).</div>
<br />
Now the only thing I wrote on spec is fiction and poetry<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How much time to you
spend in preparation? In actual writing? In editing?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<br />
Plotting, writing and editing all take a lot of time.
Research is a big part of things for me—and thinking about the nature of my
characters—who they are, what they should or would do and why.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Formatting has been a bear for me with the Desert Breeze
books because I‘ve never prepared a book directly for e-book format before.
Exciting. Something new to learn.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exciting, but
sometimes tricky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is your best
critic?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
My daughter on fiction and my critique group—my husband is
great, but he does not like fiction. I read non-fiction aloud and then send it
out (after editing, of course)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I'm learning to read
my work aloud, too. I think it helps. Tell us about your writing space.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Cluttered. I am a clutter queen. I have a desktop computer
in an office filled with papers, books, pictures, and “Stuff” </div>
<br />
My laptop accompanies me into other rooms where I write and
write.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Time wise - do you
write daily? Weekly? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Definitely daily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe two or three hours unless I am on a
crunch—that is actual time at the computer. I am usually writing more than one
thing at a time and researching two or three other things at a time as well,
for performance or writing. </div>
<br />
At the present moment, I am preparing to give a talk on
story performance in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:place></st1:state>,
preparing two or three short fiction and poetry pieces to send out to contests,
writing three articles, two under contract for the local paper, one for a
woman’s website<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(travel) and am working
on finishing up an article for a disability website.<br />
<br />
At the same time I am researching and plotting the second
installment in my Desert Breeze Series.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You are one busy gal!
It sounds like you don't have a problem getting inspired. Do you ever have to
wait until the mood hits?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
No! Inspiration is 90 percent perspiration for me. Walks and
breaks and fun with family often provide inspiration.<br />
<br />
I’m rarely stuck, but I pray that God will keep it flowing.<br />
<br />
My life verse is one which I have seen some other Desert
Breeze authors use too—helps confirm that I am with the right group—Psalm 45:1c
“ my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”<br />
<br />
God gave me this verse before I started to write and
perform. I believe He wanted to tell me that I would pursue both of these areas
and I have!<br />
<br />
I even wrote a long and thoughtful article for the National
Storytelling Organization on the relationship of oral and written storytelling,
using this verse as my starting point.<br />
<br />
Ideas for stories and characters come all the time too.
Sometimes faster than I can take notes on them.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sounds like you don't
really need a boost with all your energy, but do you start with coffee?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Definitely. Coffee, breakfast , quiet time of reading Bible
and praying, then I check my email, do some words with friends on my computer
and get going on writing, researching, interviewing (for fiction and non-fiction)
and editing—a little bit of each.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is your
long-term goal?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Honor God with whatever I do.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">An excellent goal for
each of us. Any advise to wanna-be's?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
Yes, keep writing. All the time. Read what you want to
write. Read other genres. Read everything.<br />
<br />
Get some good books on writing (There are more than I can
tell. Check several out at the library and find the one that resonates with
you) and when you send something to an editor, follow the directions. Seek
criticism and take it in stride. Be prepared to edit your work. Rewrite, edit and
rewrite again.<br />
<br />
I’ve included a photo of me
storytelling.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thank you so much,
Joan. You have quite a resume! Blessings in all your endeavors.</b><br />
Joan can be reached through the following sites and e-mail address.<br />
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.joanleotta.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #234786; font-size: small;">www.joanleotta.com</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_133355386565412077">
<a href="http://www.joanleotta.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #234786; font-size: small;">www.joanleotta.blogspot.com</span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_133355386565411849">
<a href="mailto:joanleotta@atmc.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:joanleotta@atmc.net"><span style="color: #234786; font-size: small;">joanleotta@atmc.net</span></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span> </h1>
<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">First <strong>Desert Breeze Book</strong> due out in July! It will be Volume 1 in the four part Legacy of Honor Series -- Working Title is "Giulia Goes to War"</span></h1>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /> </div>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-28518552995439660462012-04-01T17:38:00.003-04:002012-04-01T17:38:53.958-04:00A note from Dave:<br />
<br />
Hi, all!<br />
I was unable to post comments, so my thanks to June for posting this note on my behalf.<br />
And also, my thanks to June for hosting me, and for asking me some very good questions!<br />
<br />
Way to go Jude, for winning the free copy of THE ATTACHE! Jude Urbanski is a fellow Desert Breeze author!<br />
<br />
I'd like to express my wish for each of you to have a blessed Easter as we remember Jesus' death on the cross. But more than His death, and most importantly, His resurrection which makes salvation for each of us possible!!<br />
<br />
Dave Bond<br />
<br />June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-89515944490069116162012-04-01T17:02:00.001-04:002012-04-01T17:02:47.886-04:00Hi, all<br />
The lucky winner of the copy of Dave's book is Jude Urbanski! Congratulations, Jude. I know you'll enjoy the book.June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-37925974506025938802012-03-25T14:01:00.004-04:002012-03-25T14:01:49.904-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBOzavhCFtat6B5s5fePdweJ4or7YrJtynRARjVXuhlZQuXwSZxcRLGSXANI9Q8V3MUJ103zvI0VWdnkf9mMdxyDC3yoDPu4zROn_HzKnOu1XhGDRF4ewJyK5asqYqJJ7ao7yll-GwCQ/s1600/TheAttacheCoverArt%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBOzavhCFtat6B5s5fePdweJ4or7YrJtynRARjVXuhlZQuXwSZxcRLGSXANI9Q8V3MUJ103zvI0VWdnkf9mMdxyDC3yoDPu4zROn_HzKnOu1XhGDRF4ewJyK5asqYqJJ7ao7yll-GwCQ/s640/TheAttacheCoverArt%5B1%5D" width="425" /></a></div>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-1511555684870911212012-03-25T13:52:00.000-04:002012-03-25T14:11:21.843-04:00Interview with David Bond - Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQvUX6fukWrX5ZraizRQD9I9Ax1N5hSHnT0rmeVryxKmVS2B5mc-YMpPpqfrsgYBfUPQPz4tprQ_JxKhKxw0oiL42UunuPMnpKGQNsPhB_9TwmgO_Dg9IMvHGwcgBuqmHz3lgNNUEyGg/s1600/David_Bond_headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQvUX6fukWrX5ZraizRQD9I9Ax1N5hSHnT0rmeVryxKmVS2B5mc-YMpPpqfrsgYBfUPQPz4tprQ_JxKhKxw0oiL42UunuPMnpKGQNsPhB_9TwmgO_Dg9IMvHGwcgBuqmHz3lgNNUEyGg/s320/David_Bond_headshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dave, welcome to my blog. It's good to have you with us this week. I'm sure my readers would be interested in learning more about you and your new e-book published by Desert Breeze Publishing House. This may seem like a strange question, <strong>but why do you write? Do you prefer fiction or non?</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I write for several reasons.
First, but not necessarily the main reason, I write because it’s something I
can do as a blind person. For years after losing my sight (1988) I sought some
kind of traditional employment. When I finally realized I wasn’t meant to
travel that particular road, several things happened to point me toward
writing. But secondly, and maybe this is more important, I love to write. Plain
and simple! I prefer fiction over non-fiction, probably because I read primarily
fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>When did you
begin to write?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I lost my sight in 1988,
ended up back at college (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Lancaster</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Bible</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>)
in 1992, and graduated in 1995 with a BS in Bible. I was traditionally employed
until 2000, until the ministry I worked for closed its doors. So, somewhere in
the early 2000s, I discovered writing and while it was on and off for a few
years, I mark the early 2000s as my beginning point for my writing career.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>How did you get
your first break as a writer?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Around this time (early
2000s), I submitted a short article for a publication and it was accepted. It
wasn’t much--earning me a whopping $50—but it was the beginning. I belonged to
various online writing lists and read a lot, and at some point, maybe 2007, or
2008, I began to take writing very seriously. I guess my “first break” happened
last year, when in May of 2011, my proposal for a trilogy was accepted and I
signed my first contract. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>How much time to
you spend in preparation? In actual writing? In editing?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Unlike many writers these
days, I’m able to devote the greater part of most days to writing since I don’t
have any other employment. My wife works, and for 9 months of the year, our son
is in school. The house is a quiet haven for me during the day, which is my
preference for writing. I don’t spend all that much time in preparation,
although, as I think about this, I probably spend more time than I realize.
Does lying in bed at night, unable to sleep, count as prep time? I’ll come up
with a story idea and create a folder, which might have only one file in it.
This is the first file to go in that folder, and it’s my “notes” file. This
could be my preparation time for a future project. But when I’m ready to write,
I write. Having said this, I stop and think in between bursts of writing. As I
tell my wife who used to wonder what I was doing—sitting at my computer as if I
were sleeping—I’m thinking! AS far as editing, well, this is my least favorite
chore. I know it’s vital, and when I’m going through the critiques from my
critique group, while I hate it in many ways, I also know how beneficial it is.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Who is your best
critic?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hmmm. No one person. My
critique group forms what amounts to my critique force. My wife isn’t a reader,
so she isn’t someone I run to for help with my writing. But my mother-in-law
is, and I usually have her proof my final author copy. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What is your
writing space like?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m set up in our living
room, where I have a laptop with a USB keyboard attached. It’s parked on a
small computer desk, and while I end up separated from my wife and son
sometimes, when they’re in the family room watching TV, it does serve as my
haven. It’s a good place, and since I require quietness to write, it really
does the trick.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Time wise - do
you write daily? Weekly?</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Daily. I’m trying to force
myself not to write on Sundays. The Bible instructs us Sunday is a day of rest.
Well, the trouble is, I don’t see writing as work to be perfectly honest. And
when I’m in the middle of something—a scene or approaching the end—it’s very
hard to walk away from my writing for a day. I don’t necessarily spend 12 hours
or whatever writing, as my diabetes requires a good bit of maintenance, and I’m
also not a complete drop-out parent or husband!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Do you wait for
inspiration?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess all of us have a
unique definition of inspiration. I label myself as an “inspirational” writer,
so it’s probably correct to use this to describe my writing process. But in the
Biblical sense, no, I am not inspired. The Scriptures were inspired writings,
so I try not to present my writing as something even remotely inspired in the
same sense. I might say story ideas pop into my head, as a result of God
directing my thoughts. AS I type this, I see I’m sort of talking in circles!
Yes, God does direct my thoughts, or at least, He is able if I’m receptive, but
no, my writing is not inspired in the same way the Scriptures were.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Okay, big one here. Do you
start out with coffee?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Absolutely. I’m the first one
downstairs in the morning, and nothing happens until I’ve had coffee! No
breakfast, no shower, no writing. One sugar cube, and a healthy dose of French vanilla
creamer! I’ll do one more cup when I get ready to start my writing day, which
is usually taking care of emails and not actually writing yet. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Dave, what is your goal -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>long term?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the moment, it’s to
finish out my 6-book contract! I’m trying to focus on getting this task
accomplished, and not just accomplished, but done well. Book 6 will be released
November, 2013, with the manuscript due 4 months earlier—July, 2013. So for the
moment, my goal is to this end. After that, well, I do have a notes file I’ve
started for another trilogy, and which way I go with this remains to be seen. I
have plenty of time to figure it out. 6-book contract? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whoa. That is a challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Any advise to wanna-be's? <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just go for it! Write in an
area you are familiar with, but also write about a topic or topics you might
happen to have some experience. My debut, The Attaché, has a main character who
loses his eye sight. I was able to input a lot of my own experiences into this
character, which helps the character, and the story, to be more authentic, but
is also a little easier in many ways. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Now please tell us about your new book.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Zack
Brenner is blinded after a mortar attack by insurgents in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The
penetrating gaze of a woman he saw in an email before he lost his sight is
seared into his memory. A failing family business back home in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state> awaits his
return, and he must learn to live independently as a blind person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incredibly, he can’t help fall in love with
the woman from the email. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jessie
Weaver narrowly escaped the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">North</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> on 9/11 after a
brief encounter with a handsome visitor who left an attaché behind. She is determined
to find him again, and her only hope is to work for the man’s family business,
now owned and managed by his blinded brother Zach. Jessie faces a test of
loyalty as she questions her devotion to a wandering stranger, versus her growing
compassion for Zach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Seeking
to accomplish something, Zach is determined to climb his beloved mountain. A
long buried family secret emerges, and a madman threatens the lives of Zack and
Jessie. The Attaché is a story about overcoming obstacles, acceptance, and trust.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Is
there truth in the words found in Scripture? “With man this is impossible, but
with God, all things are possible.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><strong>It sounds very interesting and you have agreed to offer a free e-book copy to someone selected from those who leave comments. We will select the recipient next Saturday - so please, dear readers, leave Dave a comment here and maybe you'll be the lucky person to receive a copy of his new book. Best wishes, Dave, and thanks for joining me this week.</strong></span></div>
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</span>June Bryan Belfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02977701533720511951noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963667624251619616.post-80762224863164300432012-03-20T10:13:00.001-04:002012-03-20T10:13:40.543-04:00Book Review for THE LANDLORDReceived a 4-cup (same as 4-star) rating today from a reviewer of Coffee Time Romance Blog. Thought I'd share it with you.<br />
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THE LANDLORD<br /> JUNE BRYAN BELFIE<br /> ISBN- 978-1-61252-121-3<br /> December, 2011<br /> Desert Breeze Publishing<br /> http://www.DesertBreezePublishing.com<br /> E-book <br /> $ 5.99<br /> 118 Pages<br /> Inspirational/Christian Romance<br /> Rating: 4 Cups<br />
Kristen has been struggling with finding a job; she has been barely surviving, but is determined to do it on her own. Things soon start to look up with a job teaching art, but her love life is in shambles.<br />
Dave happens upon the scene as the new landlord for Kristen’s apartment building. He is engaged, but is unsure of his relationship with his fiancé and finds he has more in common with Kirsten.<br />
Even though they got off on the wrong foot, Kristen and Dave seem to form a friendship. Kirsten has feelings that she hopes Dave will reciprocate. Has God drawn them together, or is this just a growing period for them both?<br />
What a wonderful sweet romance. I could so connect to Dave and Kristen as I could vividly see the background they lived in because I actually live just a stone’s throw away from where the story is set. How is that for romance in your own backyard! I love the faith in God that the characters have and that they are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs. This was a fun, fast, feel good read with characters you will enjoy reading about.<br />
Matilda<br /> Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More</div>
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