Journal Jots – Blog

WHOO-HOO … Welcome to the 2013 Summer Scavenger Hunt!!

This hunt has 32 stops and runs 5/17-5/19/13. You can make the loop, reading unique content from 31 different authors, and if you complete the loop, and fill out the Rafflecopter form at Stop #32, you’ll be in the running for an iPad Mini (loaded with all our books), or one of two runner-up prizes — all 31 of our new releases in paperback. In addition, some authors are offering additional prizes, so be sure to read each post thoroughly to be in the running for all that are available. The contest is open internationally. 

If you’ve JUST discovered the hunt, I recommend you begin at the beginning, Stop #1, found at LisaBergren.com. But you can also begin here, and keep on rolling. Just be aware that you have to have the COMPLETED phrase in order, which you construct gathering the clue at each stop, within 24 hours of email notification from Lisa Bergren that you won. If Lisa doesn’t hear back from you with the correct phrase within the time limit, she will move on to the next winner Rafflecopter draws. Ready? Here we go… 

DEBORAH RANEY 

I am SO EXCITED to host Deborah Raney—not only because Deb is an award-winning author whose very first book A Vow to Cherish was made into a movie that I absolutely LOVED — but Deb is one of the nicest human beings you will meet on the planet. Her books are emotionally powerful, thought-provoking, and truly inspiring, and you will fall in love with her both as a person and an author just as I did. Without further ado … I give you Deborah Raney. 

Haven’t heard of Deborah Raney before? Here’s an official bio:

 

Deborah Raney’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired a World Wide Pictures film and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom. Deb’s newest novel, The Face of the Earth, released in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. She and her husband have four children and four grandchildren, who all live much too far away. More about Deb at Deb’s Website, Deb’s Facebook Page and Deb’s Twitter Page.

Like Deb, I’m a visual person, so it’s really fun to get a glimpse at the pictures that inspired her as she wrote her current novel The Face of the Earth, so enjoy! 

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

by Deborah Raney 

My novel The Face of the Earth released this week from Howard/Simon & Schuster and I wanted to share some of the images that inspired me as I was writing the novel.

When Mitchell’s wife, Jill, kisses him goodbye, he has no idea that he may never see her again.

When she doesn’t return and the police can’t find her, Mitch asks his neighbor, Shelley, for help.

As months pass, Mitch and Shelley grow closer. How can he honor his vows to a woman who’s vanished?

Being a very visual person, I like to create an “ideaboard” for each of my novels. Before programs like Scrivener and Pinterest, I would make a literal bulletin board in my office with photos of my characters, maps of the setting, items that inspired my story, etc. Now my “bulletin boards” are virtual, but those images from my novel are still an important way for me to really get to know my characters as I write about them.

I love casting my novel as if it were a movie. Using real actors and actresses helps me to not merely “see” my characters, but to hear their voices, and visualize their movements and body language.

Though I almost always write about fictional towns, I always have a real spot on the planet in mind when I’m writing, and usually my fictional town is anchored by a real city. In the case of The Face of the Earth, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, and Springfield, Missouri; as well as Kansas City, Kansas, were cities that play a role in my story. 

Besides visuals for my character and settings, I go a step further and find images for my characters’ homes. I’m more apt to peruse real estate sites for a home for my character than I am for a home for myself! In fact, when my husband and I recently bought a new house, I often came across homes during our house search that didn’t suit us at all, but that I promptly saved the photos because they were perfect for one of my characters! Of course, I only use these images for my own inspiration, but if you happen to own the vacation cabin that I “stole” for the Brannons, or Shelley’s kitchen or the Brannons’ backyard, thank you! 🙂

I hope seeing the images that inspired me on my Pinterest page will make you want to read The Face of the Earth! And when you land on my post in this scavenger hunt, be sure to read to the end to find out how you can enter a drawing for the beautiful magnifying glass that played a special role in The Face of the Earth! 

Deborah Raney’s new release, The Face of the Earth is a heart-wrenching read that poses the question “How can a man honor his vows to a woman who’s disappeared from the face of the earth?” It is available at bookstores or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book Distributors, and elsewhere.  

AND NOW, YOUR NEXT STEPS:  

Write down this clue: ideas,

Have it written down? Great! Now head over to Deborah Raney’s website, Stop # 7 for the next clue! Thanks for stopping by! 

BONUS PRIZE! 

Julie here, I’m giving away two copies of LOVE AT ANY COST in celebration of the April launch of my brand-new “Heart of San Francisco” series, in which I have three separate giveaways — TWO RANDOM DRAWINGS OF SIGNED COPIES of book 1 LOVE AT ANY COST (EVERY POINT GIVES YOU ANOTHER ENTRY FOR A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN) … PLUS the person with the MOST points wins the following:

1. $50 Gift Card from Amazon, B&N, CBD, Starbucks — you name it!
2. Your choice of one of any of my books including a printed spiral-bound copy of A Light in the Window or my January 2014 release Dare to Love Again— signed, sealed and delivered!
3. Your choice of three top CBA books from my personal library (brand new!)

Just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below and GOOD LUCK!! PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL RESPOND TO ALL COMMENTS! 🙂a Rafflecopter giveaway

“It is only in sorrow bad weather masters us;

in joy we face the storm and defy it.”

–Amelia Barr

Amelia definitely nailed it with her quote above because when my husband and I and daughter and fiance went to finalize details yesterday at the rustic winery where my daughter’s wedding reception will take place tomorrow, the “bad weather” definitely mastered us. Not only because it was a cold, COLD 38 degees, which set a new record low for St. Louis on May 3 (lovely), but because 100 people will be eating dinner outside tomorrow night on a terrace that had no walls (see pic) with only those standing commercial heaters to keep them warm. Add to that endless rain and possible wind, and you get the picture — we were shaking in our boots, and not just from the rain and cold.

Let me tell you—this is the time you want to be one of those folks with a deep faith in God!! Although I have to admit, mine was as shaky as my body, shivering in the cold, quite humbling in the face of my daughter sitting there perfectly calm, trusting God while I fought a tic in my eye. Sigh. At least I raised her right.

Of course we had already asked the winery if they could re-install the Plexiglas walls they just took down a few weeks ago, which they adamantly said they could not. Because, you see, once down, the Plexiglas walls are down for the season since it’s a huge project to reinstall and besides, everybody knows average temperatures in St. Louis in May are low 70s. Yeah, right. This is St. Louis, remember? Home of surprise weather … and highly strung CDQ (caffeinated drama queen) mothers with pulsing tics in their eyes.

So we did what the Lessman family always does in a crisis of any kind—we prayed. We prayed for favor with the winery and we prayed for peace for the mother — who was hyperventilating — and lo and behold, the winery relented. For a small fee, some poor winery employee will spend six hours tomorrow morning re-installing the Plexiglas walls to 90% while heaters (hopefully) will take care of the 10% that opens out to a lovely terrace where the dance floor was supposed to be if the weather had cooperated. I’m breathing a lot easier now, although I am borrowing pashimas like crazy for a pashima table just in case … 🙂

Amelia got the bad weather part right for sure—if we fret and worry, sorrow masters us, but I’m afraid the lady missed the boat on the joy and storm. Because for those who know and love God, it’s not in joy we face the storm and deny it, it’s in prayer and faith that we are able to ward off fear as effectively as those wonderful Plexiglas walls, keeping us warm and safe in the knowledge that “all things work together for good for those who love God.” 

Because it may be Mother Nature who wins this battle, but it’s God who wins the war.

Pictures on Journal Jots soon, I promise! Be sure to check out the winners from my contest below and I won’t mind at all if you send up a prayer or two for warm, dry, calm weather tomorrow … 🙂

Hugs and Happy Wedding Weekend,

Julie 

WE HAVE WINNERS!!

A HUGE thank you to each of you entered my Journal Jot contest last month and I wish that everyone could win. But unfortunately I could only pick three winners and my deepest thanks to each of these ladies:

First-Place Winner (most points accrued) – EMILY REILLY

—Kindle ($69.00 value)

—A character named after you in my next book, Dare to Love Again.

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of five top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

SECOND-PLACE WINNER (2^nd most points accrued) — JASMINE AUGUSTINE

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of two top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

THIRD-PLACE WINNER (random drawing of points accrued where even one point has the chance to win) — DEANA DOUGHERTY

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of one top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

HUGE CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT COMING!!!

Save the date! May 17-19^th, I will be taking part in a 31-author Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt where the Grand Prize winner will receive an iPad Mini with all 31 e-books loaded on it, and 2 runners-up will receive all 31 books in paperback. Click here for more info! In addition, I will be offering my own giveaway of a Kindle or equivalent Amazon giftcard and a signed copy of choice of my books, so MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

FINAL BLOG GIVEAWAY!!!

May 6-20, 2013:

Win your choice of my books at an interview on JUANITA NOBLE’S BLOG at:

http://juanitanobles.blogspot.com/

 

 

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

Peter said, “Master, people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me;

I know that power has gone out from me.”

— Luke 8:45-48

YIKES … with a week to go before my daughter’s wedding, a new book out, and receiving edits from my editor on book 2 in The Heart of San Francisco series, Dare to Love Again—I don’t have to tell anybody how crazy busy it’s been. And, yes, this CDQ has been a littttttle bit on the wired side to say the least, so as usual, I’ve taken solace from the Scriptures.

This week I was reading the story about the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, you know the gal who spent all her time and money going to doctors, to no avail? Well, out of total desperation, she touches Jesus’ robe in the midst of a crowd, hoping to be healed. Now although I have read this story innumerable times in my life, something happened this time that often happens to each of us when reading the Word of God—He spoke to my heart.

I don’t know about you, but I can almost see Peter glancing at Jesus over his shoulder with that “Duh” look and a bit of a crimp in his brow as if he might think Jesus just a tad over the edge to ask such a question. I mean, come on, Jesus—the crowd around us is obviously pushing and jostling for attention, right?

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me;

 I know that power has gone out from me.”

So there I was, sitting on the sofa in my hearth room with my feet up and hazelnut coffee by my side while I gaped at the open Bible in my lap, seeing something I had never seen before.

As members of the Body of Christ we all follow Jesus, of course, pressing in, hoping to get closer to this Savior Who has taken each of us from the dark into His glorious light. And yet, in this story, in the midst of a crowd of followers, Jesus takes what might have been a side note in just another chapter of the Bible and makes it intimate and personal between Him and this woman, almost as if the crowd fades away, allowing this suffering soul to come face to face with the God of the Universe.

She was desperate, tired of being sick, and at the end of her rope. She’d spent all her money going from doctor to doctor, but no one could help her but the Great Physician. She was bleeding to death, but no one could staunch the flow except Him. So she touched Him. Really, really touched Him. Pressing in like everyone else, her fingers grazing his robe like the crowd grazed His body. And yet, different.  

Oh, so very, very different.

You see, she tapped in to the Source, her faith gripping on to His hope like her fingers gripped onto His robe. Trembling in the physical, yes, but oh so rock-steady in her faith that this Man not only could heal her, He would heal her and set her free to be the woman He’s called her to be.

Well, guess what? I am that woman … and so are you. There are areas of our lives where we are bleeding, desperate, and so very hungry for what Jesus has to offer. But in this world of busy-busy-busy, we follow Him, oh yes, and we even press in with daily devotionals, Bible reading, and prayer. But do we really touch Him like this woman touched Him—resolute, faith focused and hope fixed—on Him and only Him. Well, I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t.

But that’s about to change.

May 1^st I am going on a month-long sabbatical—a spiritual sabbatical, if you will, where like the woman with the hemmorhage, I intend to not only press in, but to touch Jesus in a way that is sometimes difficult amidst the hurry and scurry of life. I am clearing my slate—fasting Amazon, e-mails and even Facebook to a large degree—to focus on God and His plan for my writing. Much of the time I devoted to those things will now be devoted to Him, and like the woman with the issue of blood, I hope to hear those wonderful words: 

 “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Go in peace. Oh, man, doesn’t that sound nice? And, oh baby, I certainly intend to, and if that sounds good to you too, why don’t you join me — fasting (be it food, gossip, what have you) and praying for your own special intentions through the month of May. Each of us can then tap in to the amazing power of the Son of God in our lives. And the next time He asks, “Who touched me?” we can say with complete and utter confidence …

It was me, Lord.

CONTEST!!!

NOTE: But now, since this contest is already in place, I need to advise those of you entered that you do have the opportunity to accrue FIVE ADDITIONAL POINTS by voting for Love at Any Cost in The Book Club Network poll on the right-hand side of the website. Once you vote, just click on the “vote for Julie” item in the Rafflecopter box further down in this post and GOOD LUCK!! Here’s the link:

THE BOOK CLUB NETWORK POLL

Book promotion is a tough job, so that’s why I posted this contest asking for your help in promoting Love at Any Cost.  The way I see it, this needs to be a win-win situation for both of us, so there are several ways you can help me out, and each will earn you a point in the contest below where prizes will be awarded to the reader friend with the most points as follows:

First-Place Winner (most points accrued):

—Kindle ($69.00 value)

—A character named after you in my next book, Dare to Love Again.

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of five top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

SECOND-PLACE WINNER (2^nd most points accrued):

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of two top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

THIRD-PLACE WINNER (random drawing of points accrued where even one point has the chance to win)

—Choice of any of my books including Love at Any Cost or Dare to Love Again

—Choice of one top CBA books from my library (all new and unused)

 

SO HOW DO YOU ACCRUE POINTS?

It’s simple! Pick which of the following things you want to do in the Rafflecopter box below, and Rafflecopter will tally it for you and for me!!a Rafflecopter giveaway CONTEST ENDS 4/30 AND WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JOURNAL JOTS ON FRIDAY, 5/3, SO GOOD LUCK!!

Hugs and Happy Weekend!!

Julie

 

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN!!! (Mark your calendars for these giveaways!):

April 24-28, 2013:

READ AN EXCERPT FROM LOVE AT ANY COST and a REVIEW, PLUS win your choice of my books including Love at Any Cost OR a printed copy of my ebook A Light in the Window on CAROLE JARVIS’ BLOG at:

http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-love-at-any-cost-part-1.html

 

April 19-30, 2013:

FIVE GIVEAWAYS of Love at Any Cost at THE BOOK CLUB NETWORK!!!

http://www.bookfun.org/

 

April 19-30, 2013: 

Win your choice of my books at an interview on NORA ST. LAURENT’S BLOG at:

http://psalm516.blogspot.com/

 

May 6-20, 2013:

Win your choice of my books at an interview on JUANITA NOBLE’S BLOG at:

http://juanitanobles.blogspot.com/