💚 💛 🧡 What You’ll Find in This Blog Today:
✅ 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting!
✅ A Sale on A Wing and a Prayer!
✅ An Upcoming Sale on Love’s Silver Lining!
✅ 20-Book Giveaway!
✅ Podcast!
✅ Two Blog Giveaways!
✅ Emma and Sean’s Christmas Novella!
✅ Say, what??? A Julie Lessman mystery on the horizon??
😎 Happy Summer, Everyone …
Or as happy as it can be with a pandemic! Hope you and yours are staying safe and well.
Lots has been going on in my world, so let me start with the the most important thing. Our country!
If you’re anything like me, you are heartsick over what’s going on in Portland, Chicago, and all over the United States, which suddenly don’t seem so “united” anymore. We have out-of-control riots, destruction of our cities, demands to defund the police, and decimation of our rich history.
I’m not talking about nonviolent protests that spotlight racial problems which truly need to be addressed, a right guaranteed by our First Amendment: freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
I’m talking about the rumbles of anarchy and Marxism that are slowly encroaching upon our freedoms, especially freedom of religion. The “Cancel Culture” wants to cancel out anyone and anything that doesn’t agree with their beliefs, which is a dangerous place to be because those beliefs are atheistic and in direct conflict with Christianity.
So, what can we do? We can stand up for our country and our beliefs in the strongest way possible — through prayer.
That said, I invite you to join me and thousands of Christians all over the world who will be participating in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama August 2-22, 2020.
Church of the Highlands is my daughter’s church and Keith’s and my online church during the Covid crisis. It is the 2nd largest nondenominational church in the United States with 24 campuses and a weekly attendance of over 52,000 people.
I first got involved with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting five years ago when my daughter called to say, “Mom, I really think you would like the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting our church is doing, so watch the kickoff service just to see, okay? (Note: This year’s kickoff is Sunday, August 2, 2020.) Silently groaning, I told her I would, fully intending to only watch the first five minutes so I could tell her it wasn’t for me.
Loud groan this time.
Because the pastor hooked me so hard, I just knew God was calling me to do it. Sigh. I promptly complained to Keith that I had to fast things I loved for 21 days, be it sweets, wine, lunch, you name it. And it doesn’t even have to be food — just something you really love that you are willing to lay down for 21 days for a greater good.
Welllllll … not only did that fast propel me into a deeper relationship with God, but it turned my life around in so many wonderful ways that I cannot recommend it highly enough. Now both Keith and I do the 21 Days together each year, as well as a ton of friends who ask me to alert them as to when the next 21 Days comes so they can do it too — it’s that powerful!! And now I’m telling you, too, and asking you to check it out, then pray about whether God wants you to do it or not, okay? I promise you will thank me!
😎 Discount on A Wing & A Prayer E-Book!
Because of all the turmoil going on in our country today, I’m feeling super 🇺🇸 patriotic, so I decided I would discount one of my newest releases (something I don’t usually do till it’s been out about a year or so), by knocking $2.00 off of the e-book for a limited time. This will be the cheapest you can download it for a while, so I encourage you to take advantage. And if you do read it and post a brief review on Amazon, please let me know so I can personally thank you, okay?
CHECK OUT VIDEO TRAILER HERE
https://bit.ly/2Vg0qGr
CHECK OUT REVIEWS AND/OR BUY HERE:
https://amzn.to/2RR0Cud
😎 Love’s Silver Lining $ .99 One Weekend Only!
As many of you know, Book 2 in the Silver Lining Ranch Series, Love’s Silver Bullet, is out there racking up reviews, so I hope you check some of them out on this 5-star read at the links below, as well as the VERY COOL trailer/video my husband Keith made for it.
And for those of you who haven’t read Book 1 in the series, Love’s Silver Lining, now is your chance because for a limited time only, LSL will be on e-sale August 1-3 for only $ .99! So, so don’t miss out on this 5-star read because it won’t last long! Here’s what people are saying!
✅ “JULIE LESSMAN + WESTERN ROMANCE = GOLD RUSH! You heard it here, folks. Julie Lessman was created to write westerns.” —Reading is my SuperPower Blog
✅ “I have loved Julie Lessman’s writing for years, but I can’t believe how great she writes cowboys! I love westerns and reading Julie’s version is pure fun.” —Mary Connealy, award-winning author of Brides of Hope Mountain Series
LOVE’S SILVER BULLET VIDEO: https://bit.ly/2XA7VYC
BUY LOVE’S SILVER BULLET: https://amzn.to/2TGE3JQ
BUY LOVE’S SILVER LINING @ 99 CENTS ON 8/1: https://amzn.to/2E7Urrl
😎 “A Most Storied Romance” 20-Book Giveaway!
I am SO excited because I am part of — along with 24 other Christian authors — a new FB Group called A MOST STORIED ROMANCE that you are definitely going to want to join, not only because it’s free, but because it’s absolutely AMAZING!
YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN … this cool new reader community for those who love to read, write, and live romance! Join 25 uplifting romance authors listed below for reader events, blogger and reviewer opportunities, exclusive content, fun chats, and many, many book recommendations!
SO, FIND/JOIN US HERE:
✅ A Most Storied Romance Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amoststoriedromance/
✅ A Most Storied Romance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoststoriedromance/
✅ A Most Storied Romance Monthly: https://www.subscribepage.com/amoststoriedromance
✅ A Most Storied Romance Official Website:
https://amoststoriedromance.com/
✅ Finally, enter the 20-Book Giveaway here: https://www.subscribepage.com/amoststoriedromance
All you do is sign up to receive A Most Storied Romance Monthly newsletter to get uplifting romance straight to your inbox on the first of every month! In addition to being entered to win a 20-book giveaway, you’ll receive:
* exclusive short stories
* insider info about our authors
* reader events
* blogger/reviewer opportunities
* exciting news
* new releases
NOTE: FB and IG are not affiliated with this giveaway. Paperbacks available for US Residents only. Ebooks will be sent to any non-US resident. Winner will be chosen Sept. 1st.
Paperbacks To Be Given Away:
A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter
A Heart Surrendered by Joy Massenburge
A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate
Summer House by Jenny Hale
A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter
At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer
Start With Me by Kara Isaac
Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner
Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano
A Match for Emma by Pepper Basham
If for Any Reason by Courtney Walsh
Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett
Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg
Flight Risk by Cara Putman
Above the Fold by Rachel McDaniel
This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche
Ebooks To Be Given Away:
Engaged in Trouble by Jenny B. Jones
A Wing and a Prayer by Julie Lessman
Love Arrives in Pieces by Betsy St. Amant
😎 Join Me on WW2 Fiction Talk Podcast!
MEGA HUGS TO WONDERFUL WWII AUTHOR Liz Tolsma for featuring me on her WWII Fiction Talk podcast!
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it chatting with Liz (whose WW2 insight and books you would love, by the way!), and I hope you do too!
You’ll find lots of great reviews and authors on this fascinating forum (including my interview with Liz for A Wing and a Prayer), so check it out HERE!
😎 Blog Giveaways!
JULY 30 – AUGUST 1: Join me on Sally Shupe’s blog for a 3-day giveaway of either of my latest books — A Wing and a Prayer or Love’s Silver Bullet — in e-book.
Three chances to win, so come on by to leave a comment and spread the word!
AUGUST 1-31, 2020: On August 17th, I will be giving away 10 e-books on Alexis A. Goring’s, MFA, God is Love blog to celebrate her 10th blog birthday with book giveaways from 31 different authors every single day of the month!
So, visit the God is Love blog HERE August 1 – 31, 2020 to join in on the fun. Giveaways end Sept. 2, 2020 and winners will be notified via email.
NOTE: My giveaway is for winner’s choice of either A Light in the Window or Isle of Hope, but if you tell me you are a Journal Jot reader, I’ll give you your choice of any one of my indie e-books).
😎 Emma & Sean’s Christmas Novella:
The Promise of Hope!
I suppose it’s not the easiest thing to write a Christmas novella in 90-degree weather, but it certainly was “cool” hanging out with the O’Connors once again, which is why I LOVED writing Emma and Sean’s novella, The Promise of Hope.
Next year will be Annie and Steven’s turn, followed by Gabe and Alex the year after.
Then … drum roll, please … I will be, God willing, writing a final Christmas novella for Marcy and Patrick in 2023, which I will then publish in paperback as an O’Connor Christmas Anthology to include all the prior Christmas novellas as well (which now are only in e-book).
But for 2020, here’s the cover for this year’s novella, The Promise of Hope, so I hope you like it. It’s tough enough finding stock photos depicting the mood I’m going for, much less reflecting the personalities and looks of the characters, but I always come as close as I can.
Had to switch out dark hair on this male model for blond and beef him up a bit to more closely match Sean, but it’s as close as I could come, even though he looks nothing like I imagine in my mind. 🙂
It releases September 1, 2020, but you can pre-order it now:
Here’s the jacket blurb:
She’s a woman of deep faith,
Till one careless comment steals it away.
He’s a man of deep joy,
Till his wife’s pain takes it away.
Fortunately they serve a God of deep love,
Whose promise of hope brings blessings to stay.
Most of my novellas are based on a spiritual lesson God taught me through my own trials, and The Promise of Hope is no different. Based on my own issues of infertility, I am hoping and praying that God will use it to bless and encourage you and women who, like me at one time, didn’t quite believe that Romans 5:5 was true when it says that, “hope does not disappoint.”
The Promise of Hope will release on September 1st and will be available for pre-order soon, so check back with this blog to not only see the cover, but to find the pre-order link.
🔎 A Julie Lessman Mystery??!!
Yes, it’s true! I’m getting antsy once again for a new genre, so I’m venturing out into the ever-popular world of mystery and suspense! I never figured I could write a mystery because you really have to be extra smart to fool everyone, right?
But then my friends reminded me that almost every one of my books have a twist ending, so who knows? Maybe I can write a mystery after all!
The fun part for me is that it will be loosely tied to the Isle of Hope series because it will take place on Lake Loon, where Chase and Cat live (the hero and heroine from book 3, His Steadfast Love), on Emerald Cottage Cove. I absolutely loved Chase’s quirky and backwoods landlady, adopted grandmother, and owner of Lake Loon, Mrs. Lillian Mariah McGill, otherwise known as Miss Lilly, so I will be revisiting her in a mystery loosely titled, The Secret of Emerald Cottage Cove. Here’s a sketchy blurb:
When international playboy and Irish soccer star Rob McGill learns he stands to inherit Lake Loon and a lakeside cottage from a great aunt who is in a coma from a drowning accident, it seems the perfect place to heal from game injuries and escape a tabloid scandal.
At thirty-three Rob is disillusioned with the game, his fiancee, and life in general, craving nothing but a little peace and solitude to get his head on straight. But when he discovers the cottage he hopes to inherit is not only inhabited by a pretty prude of a nurse, but soon by a crusty Aunt Lilly as well, his plans take a nose-dive in the lake. Because suddenly it appears not only was Aunt Lilly’s accident no accident … but apparently now somebody wants to see them all dead.
Well, that’s all for now, but PLEASE say one for me for wisdom, creativity, and anointing, okay? THANK YOU!!
Stay safe and well!
♥️ Hugs,
Julie
