Journal Jots – Blog

“My hope is found in this one unshakeable truth:

I don’t have to know the way,

I simply have to follow the One Who is The Way.”

—Kelly Hall, Surrendered Hearts

Hope. As vital as air to each of us, and literally oxygen to the human soul. And the good news? If God is in your life, then hope is in strong supply because He is “The God of Hope.”

Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

—Romans 15:13 

Hope has been on my mind a lot lately, and not just because it’s a staple of embarking on a new year. Nope, this time it’s because just yesterday—Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!—I penned the final line to my first contemporary novel, Unfailing Love, book 1 in the Isle of Hope series. And, goodness, was this a tough nut to crack!

Maybe because after writing ten historical novels, the idea of writing a contemporary scared me a wee bit. You see, as a sixty-four-year-old author, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could get the modern language and terminology right for my twenty-six-year-old heroine and twenty-eight-year-old hero. In a historical, you can fudge a lot because let’s face it—few people are familiar with basic terms from the early nineteen hundreds. But in a story about today’s young people? I’ll admit I was a little nervous about slang, music, and mindset, so thank God I have my twenty-six-year-old daughter as a check system, which means I think I’m okay … 🙂

Or maybe this novel was harder to write because in many ways, it was a catharsis for me, a purge of my past, if you will. You see, the story is about a wild girl at odds with her father, who eventually kicks her out of the house, which is basically my story as well. And when she becomes a Christian several years later, the first thing God tells her to do is to make amends with her dad, also my story. So to say I did a lot of crying during this book is an understatement, which I guess is good for me, and hopefully you too!

Anyway, I’ll be pitching this novel to my editor soon, so say one for me, okay? But in the meantime, I thought it might be fun to give you a sneak peek at where I’ve been “living” in my mind for the last nine months, so I decided to share some of the pix from my notes file and pix of different heroes I’m considering.

If you feel like it, I’d love your feedback on which hero appeals for Jack O’Bryen, a six-foot-two bad-boy pediatrician fresh out of residency with brown hair and pale blue eyes. Once a sweet and serious pastor’s kid who had intended to be a pastor himself, Jack O’Bryen has turned his back on God for reasons you will discover in the story. Now he’s a free-and-easy bachelor ready to make up for years of hard work and studies. Until the one woman he’d once hoped to marry returns to Isle of Hope after eight long years. Suddenly the tables are turned, and the temptress girlfriend he once fell in love with is now a Christian while he, the ex-seminary student once so devoted to God, is now the bad boy. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg …

Jack O’Bryen #1

Jack O’Bryen #2

I’m editing now, but in the weeks ahead, I’ll be posting excerpts, so be sure to check back for sneak peeks, okay?

Hugs and Happy Weekend!

Julie

BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015:

For most of us, the new year is a time of reflection on where we’ve been and where we want to go—in our life and in our writing. Join me as I reflect (i.e. ramble) on what it means for me to be a Christian author in my blog, “LOVE AFFAIR 2015: A Christian Romance Author’s Rambling on Life, Love, and Writing,” where you’ll also have the opportunity to win a signed copy of any of my books.
  

NEW RELEASE COMING …

COMING SPRING 2015 … a novella about Blake “The Rake McClare” from the Heart of San Francisco series, so check back for when and where.

FREEBIES AND SALES!!

SALES ON THE FINAL BOOKS IN O’CONNOR FAMILY SAGA!! HUGE savings on A Hope Undaunted, Heart Revealed & A Love Surrendered!!

 FREE Download of

A Passion Most Pure!

ACFW Debut Book of the Year & over 614 5-star reviews can’t be wrong! See why some have read it 20 times!

 Click here:

AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, CHRISTIANBOOKSTORE.COM, iBOOKSTORE

VALENTINE’S DAY IS COMING AND A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW WILL BE FREE ON KINDLE!! My Irish love story, A Light in the Window—winner of three awards—will be free the week before Valentine’s Day, so do check it out. Here’s the video my hubby did for A Light in the Window with my daughter as the model for both the book and video, so take a peek. ALITW Video.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

 — Isaiah 43:18-19

Okay, raise your hand if you want to “forget (some) former things” from this year. Yeah, I thought so—me too. But then I started thinking about it and you know what? It’s those not-so-fun “former things” in 2014 that taught me the most about my life, about who I am as a person, and about where I want to go.

I mean, honestly, can you say that about the good things that happened? This year we had some wonderful memories—a week in Spokane with both my kids, their spouses, and two adorable grandkids; vacations at the Lake of the Ozarks with our favorite relatives and friends, and a number of wonderful get-togethers with Keith’s family and mine. But the truth is, I didn’t learn anything new because I already KNOW I love and enjoy these people and things.

But the not-so-great things? Things like chest pains, hair loss, weight gain, and family and career disappointments—have changed me, made me a better, more grateful, and more responsible person. I now am more inclined to exercise regularly and eat more healthfully, introducing good things to my diet like daily doses of apple cider vinegar for a multitude of benefits from weight loss to energy (over 30 different perks — check them out sometime online). My doctor even approved a vitamin called Biotin for hair loss, so between that and going au natural with wavy hair that I never even knew I had, my confidence is back with the easiest hairstyle EVER! And it’s in style right now, too, so win-win! And finally, the family and career disappointments I’ve experienced this last year have helped sharpen my perspective and adjust my compass for priorities and goals in 2015. Goodness, each of these things alone are profound life lessons, but together—for me—they’re the equivalent of a masters degree in life.

Yes, I know the Scripture above says “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past,”and I totally agree. But I believe this is talking about the feelings of hurt and disappointment that can hold us captive with things like anger, bitterness, insecurity, jealousy, etc.—not the lessons learned. So on the threshold of 2015, I choose to glean the good from the bad and move on. Or in Frozen-ology …

♫ ♫ ♫  Let it go, Let it go … turn away and slam the door. ♫ ♫ ♫

Sooooo … how ‘bout you?

Hugs and Happy New Year!

Julie

WE HAVE WINNERS!!!

Mega thanks to each of you who voted in Goodreads’ Swoony Awards, whether you voted for me or not, because anytime we can vote for Christian Fiction, it’s a blessing. But special hugs to those of you who did vote for me because both Dare to Love Again and Surprised by Love made the top ten out of hundreds of incredible Christian romance, so that is totally your doing, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here’s the link so you can check out the list to see where your favorites fell.

FINAL GOODREAD’S SWOONY AWARDS LIST

That said, following are the two winners from my contest—the top winner with the most points and the second winner from the random drawing. I will be in touch with each of you for your choice of my books with an extra surprise for my top winner of her choice of a brand-new CBA book from my library as well.

TOP WINNER: Wanda Barefoot

2ND PLACE WINNER: Cynthia Marcano

Super congrats, Wanda and Cynthia!!

WHAT ARE THE BEST BOOKS YOU READ IN 2014?

Family Fiction Magazine wants to know! I don’t know about you, but when I read a great book, I like to shout it from the rooftops, so now you the chance to do just that. All you have to do is go to the link below and leave a comment with your top favorite books you read in 2014 — as many as you want — and that’s it! Have fun!

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE 2014 READS HERE

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 I hope your Christmas was wonderful and brimming with the true meaning of the season! I know mine was.

But I will admit — it was different. You see, with my son and daughter-in-law and grandkids across the country in Spokane, Washington and with it being my daughter’s turn to spend most of the holiday with my son-in-law’s family this year, Keith and I spent a very quiet — but surprisingly, very lovely — Christmas Eve and Christmas morning alone.

Yes, we missed our kids and grandkids terribly. And yes, it was pretty quiet (and clean, I might add!), but in the midst of the quiet and still, without all the laughter and hub-bub to distract us, we found ourselves, strangely enough, able to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas. To appreciate more fully the gifts God has given us rather than those we’ve given or received ourselves. And I have to tell you, in the absence of celebration with those we love, we found a closeness with each other and with the Savior unlike any we’ve known in the past.

Because I’ve discovered for the very first time that it’s in those times of quiet and loneliness and missing those we love that the still, small Voice can be heard more clearly and loudly than ever before. A reverent time when God’s love becomes as warm and close as the kiss of a precious grandchild or the hug of a son or a daughter. A time of reflection and thanksgiving and undescribable joy over all He has done for each of us throught the birth of His Son.

It’s kind of like the birthday of someone we love. We love them all the time, but it’s on their special day that our focus sharpens and our gratitude grows, when we turn our eyes away from the busyness of life onto only them. That’s how it’s been for me this Christmas, and I have to admit — it’s been a gift I did not expect to receive and one I will never forget. Because beyond all the sparkle and shine of the holidays, nothing satisfies, comforts, supports, or inspires like the gift of God in our lives, a gift that is truly like no other.

And so, I wish you and yours the very best gift of all — a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season overflowing with His love and His joy and His peace.

Hugs,

Julie

ONE-DAY SALE ON LOVE AT ANY COST! 

80% SALE ONE DAY ONLY — SUN., DEC. 28 — ON LOVE AT ANY COST!! This is your chance to get Book 1 in The Heart of San Francisco series at it’s lowest price yet!!

GOODREADS’ SWOONY AWARD CONTEST ENDS DEC. 31ST!

Have you supported Christian Fiction in Goodreads Swoony Awards? If so, then I would like to THANK YOU for voting (whether or not you vote for me in the process) by entering you in my contest for a signed copy of any of my books. Just indicate you have voted in the Rafflecopter box below, and you are automatically entered to win your choice of a signed copy of any of my books, including my Charity and Mitch Christmas novella, A Whisper of Hope, ebook OR a printed manuscript (since it’s not in paperback yet). Here’s the link, and HAPPY VOTING!! 

VOTE FOR CHRISTIAN FICTION AT GOODREADS VOTING LINK, THEN ENTER THE CONTEST BY TELLING ME YOU VOTED IN THE BOX BELOW!a Rafflecopter giveaway
PRIZES GALORE DURING SEEKERVILLE’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY!!

Be there or be square!! Join me and the other Seekerville authors for a rockin’, sockin’ New Year’s Eve Pary ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT on Dec. 31st. Prizes will be given away every hour, and I’ll be giving away my books during my chat time of 1:00 -3:00 PM, so come by to say “hey,” okay? Here’s the link:

http://seekerville.blogspot.com/

FREEBIES & SALES:

80% SALE ONE DAY ONLY — SUN., DEC. 28 — ON LOVE AT ANY COST!! This is your chance to get Book 1 in The Heart of San Francisco series at it’s lowest price yet!!

CHRISTMAS SALES ON FINAL BOOKS IN O’CONNOR FAMILY SAGA!! HUGE savings on A Heart Revealed & A Love Surrendered!!

FREE Download of

A Passion Most Pure!

ACFW Debut Book of the Year & almost 300 5-star reviews can’t be wrong! See why some have read it 20 times!

 Click here:

AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, CHRISTIANBOOKSTORE.COM, iBOOKSTORE

CHRISTMAS IS COMING AND A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW IS FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!!  My Irish Christmas love story, A Light in the Window—winner of three awards—is ABSOLUTELY FREE on Kindle Unlimited, so do check it out. Here’s the video my hubby did for A Light in the Window with my daughter as the model for both the book and video, so take a peek to get you in the Christmas spirit. ALITW Video.