New Short Story Release!!

My newest short story, "The SS Grace" is now released on The Wild Rose Press! You can download the file for only $3!

Here's the summary...

Savannah Dodson thinks this cruise will be the honeymoon she never had. But once on board, her husband delivers a blow that threatens to drown her heart forever. Can Savannah and Austin find the grace they need to save their marriage? Or will it sink to its death beneath tumultuous waves?

And here's the direct link to purchase!

http://secured.thewildrosepress.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=407&zenid=f5d28d2f7246e6764c74651f48116f73


Thanks for your support and encouragement!

PS. If you missed my previous short story “If Wishes Were Dog Biscuits”, here’s the link!

http://secured.thewildrosepress.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87_93&products_id=392&zenid=4072c2e61ea8d4e7bb6c9f2502fb22cb

Crazy Little Thing Called Characters

Well, I'm convinced Logan hates me. He's mad that Callie hurt his feelings, and now...zippo. He refuses to speak.

Any other writers out there having a similar problem? I'm trying to write, and I can just see Logan with his arms crossed, lips pressed together in a tight line, shaking his head. Bitterness radiates from his hunched shoulders. Nuh uh.

What do you guys do when your characters hush? When they get their feelings hurt and totally leave you to wing it alone? When they drag their feet and fight you every step of the way?

Do you take a break? Eat chocolate? Run laps? Find a paddle to pop them with? Apologize? All of the above???

Sigh.

I'm sorry Logan! But it was all for a purpose!! JUST HANG IN THERE UNTIL CHAPTER FIVE! IT WILL GET BETTER, I PROMISE!!! =)

"Change is in the air..."

Change isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes its just hard to remember that fact! Change is good in that it helps us grow, it challenges us to reach new levels, strive harder, take on new responsibilities...but to be honest - it's scary!

You know what I mean?

Even what we consider "good" changes still usually involve hard work, uncertainty, trust in God, and a whole lot of faith! (could it be that's why we experience change so often?!)

What changes are you going through right now? At work? At home? Within your family? Your school? Your career? Your writing?

Are you holding yourself back from something because of uncertainty? Fear? Doubts? Lack of trust? Its never too late to leap! When I'm nervous about a situation, I like to think of Peter. When he saw Jesus waiting for him, he jumped right out of that boat and into the ocean. No doubt he remembered that time he walked on the same waves that currently pounded against his body. No matter! He was going to see Jesus. His eye was on the goal. The fact that he was soaking wet, probably had no dry clothes to change into, and oodles of saltwater in his mouth didn't deter him from that goal! He was shore-bound.

Do you need to jump out of the boat today? Is Jesus waiting for you to take a first step in faith so He can bless your socks off? With your writer's block? With your agent-search? With your full-time job? With your teenagers? Your husband?

1...2...3....

LEAP!

Book signing update!

Yay, God! The storms never came! They skirted Arcadia, and we only had a light, very sporadic rain. The "foot-traffic" in the library was still a little slow, and not as much as the librarian hoped, but we still had a terrific signing and sold books! A very fun afternoon. Thanks to Greg and the other workers at Bienville Parish Public Library, for your encouragement and support today, not to mention the awesome welcome reception! You're the best!

Rain rain, go away, come again some non-book-signing-day...

www.plueys.com

So, not only do I somehow end up scheduling a book signing an entire city away on Friday the 13th, but I also somehow pick the very day that severe thunderstorms are predicted across Louisiana.

Welcome to the irony.

I really should write chick-lit novels, instead! =)

I'm a little nervous that the weather will be so bad that no one gets out to attend the event...but, some people go to libraries on rainy days, right? It's from 3-6 p.m., so maybe some of the "after-school" crowd will have to go for school/research/homework purposes...but I can't fret too much. God is in control! He knows how many people will show up, if any, and you know what else - I'm okay with that! I believe His purpose will be accomplished even if I wind up sitting there alone, eating all the angel-shaped cookies by myself.

Such is a writer's life. =)

Seriously though, my God not only controls my destiny but He also controls the wind and rain! He tells the drops where to fall, and if He desires, He can scoot the entire storm around Arcadia and give us a rainbow and sunny skies! I'm praying He does that. (feel free to join me in prayer for that request!) But again, if not... He's still God! And I'm still okay.

Stay tuned...

Coral Moon!

Another winner from Brandilyn Collins! How DOES she do it? Creep us out AND inspire us at the same time? This woman has it all, and so do her books.

WARNING: Read in bed with covers tucked under chin, preferably with spouse or big dog nearby. But the "oh my" moments are worth it - Brandilyn's novels are famous for concocting not only goosebumps, but heart changes. Read on, dear reader, read on!

Coral Moon - the second in the Kanner Lake series, one that is rapidly becoming a new favorite of mine!

Here's a clip:

The figure remained still as stone. Leslie couldn't even detect a breath.Spider fingers teased the back of her neck.Leslie's feet rooted to the pavement. She dropped her gaze to the driveway, seeking...what? Spatters of blood? Footprints? She saw nothing. Honed through her recent coverage of crime scene evidence, the testimony as last month's trial, the reporter in Leslie spewed warnings: Notice everything, touch nothing...

Leslie Brymes hurries out to her car on a typical workday morning...and discovers a dead body inside.Why was the corpse left for her to find? And what is the meaning of the message pinned to its chest?In Coral Moon, the senseless murder of a beloved Kanner Lake citizen spirals the small Idaho town into a terrifying glimpse of spiritual forces beyond our world. What appears true seems impossible.

OR IS IT?

Do you have goosebumps yet?

Brandilyn Collins is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Web Of Lies, Dead of Night, Stain of Guilt, Brink of Death, and Eyes of Elisha just to name a few. Brandilyn and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.S he also maintains an informative blog called Forensics and Faith. Email Brandilyn at brandilyn@brandilyncollins.com

New Release!!

Hey friends! =)

Just a note to let you know that my newest short story "If Wishes Were Dog Biscuits" is available NOW on The Wild Rose Press website!

www.thewildrosepress.com

Scroll down on the home page until you see the cover with the title and my name. You can download the file for $3.00.

Thanks for your interest, support and encouragement! =)

Blessings!
Betsy Ann St. Amant