Here it is at long last, the front cover for Book II of the Twilight of the British Raj series---Captured by Moonlight. Stay tuned for

January----the Book Trailer

February----the Ebook release

May 1----release of the printed book

Prisoners to their own broken dreams…

After a daring rescue goes awry, Laine Harkness and her friend Eshana flee to the tropical south of India…and headlong into their respective pasts.

Laine takes a nursing position at a plantation in the jungle, only to discover that her former fiancé is the owner…but fun-loving Laine refuses to let Adam crush her heart like he had years ago.  

Eshana, captured by her traditional uncle and forced once more into the harsh Hindu customs of mourning, doubts freedom will ever be hers again, much less the forbidden love that had begun to flower.

Amid cyclones, epidemics, and clashing faiths, will the love of the True Master give hope to these searching hearts?

My Work In Progress--Captured by Moonlight

Gail Pallotta  invited me to be part of a blog hop to find out what authors are currently up to. Please check out the wonderful book that Gail is writing on her website. It sounds like a lot of fun, a romance set around a hair stylist. I always thought that would make a great story-line.

Below I’ve answered ten questions about my WIP (for non writers, this means Work In Progress).

THE QUESTIONS
What is the working title of your book?   Captured by Moonlight---Book II of the Twilight of the British Raj series, to be released by WhiteFire Publishing Feb. 2013.

 
Where did the idea come from for the book? Captured by Moonlight is the continuing story of 2 very important secondary characters in my Award-winning novel Shadowed in Silk. Eshana is the young, former Hindu widow who became a Christian. The other main character is Nursing Matron, Laine Harkness.

I fell in love with these two characters in Book I. Laine has such spunky British humor and go-get-em attitude as she cares for her patients, and as she and Eshana kidnap poor little Hindu girls that are being used in the sex trade.

Eshana is also spunky, but in a sweet Indian way, and a spiritual life that knocks the socks off most Christians. In the book, Laine describes Eshana as being as compliant as a stock of bamboo. Yeah, she may bend under tremendous pressure, but if someone interferes with her charitable work, she’ll bounce right back and give that interference a decidedly painful thwack.   

Both of these women just leapt off the pages in the first book and deserved to have their own story told.

I also wanted to show the beauty if the south of India where I visited once. Those gorgeous tropics and emerald green rice paddies—heavy sigh—with lovely Indian women wearing a kaleidoscope of different colored saris.

What genre does your book fall under? A Christian Historical Romance.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? For the heroine I’d choose Sandra Bullock; the hero, Jim Caviezel in his thirties.

This is the beautiful model that will wear the dress below for the front cover of Captured by Moonlight

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? From the parched north of India to the tropics of Madras, follow Eshana and Laine as they journey as prisoners—one to a lurking danger from her past, and the other to her own broken hopes.  

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My book is being published by a traditional publisher, WhiteFire Publishing.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? The first draft took about four months, and then another two to polish it. Right now, Captured by Moonlight is in the hands of my editor, Roseanna White, of WhiteFire for the line-by-line edit. I can’t wait to get it back and work on those edits.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? My books tend to have the social concerns of Kathi Macias or Jeannette Windle, although the setting is historical and the style is more like Laurie Alice Eakes, full of romance, mystery, and a strong dose of suspense.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? Again, the two fictional characters that came off the pages of Shadowed in Silk, inspired me to tell their story. Eshana’s Hindu past catches up to her, and a long-lost love of Laine’s.

But also, two real-life heroines—Dr. Ida Skudder who built one of the greatest hospitals in all of Southeast Asia at the turn of the 20^th century, and Pandita Ramabai, a great Indian Christian woman who did so much for suffering widows and orphans in India. These are the true heroes of Captured by Moonlight by their self-less care of the suffering people of India.

 What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? I think Laine is a hoot. She makes me laugh, but she’s also a woman of tremendous passion which comes across in her storm-tossed relationship with Adam, her former fiancé.

Eshana, is a true spiritual leader—I learned so much from her spiritual journey while she is imprisoned for a while.

But, throw in a cyclone, a cholera epidemic, a tiger, and I think Captured by Moonlight is one of those books that sweeps you away to a far-away land, and keeps you enthralled for a couple of days. All I can say is what I’ve been told by the first readers—Captured by Moonlight is pure magic. 

This is the especially designed dress that the above model will wear for the front cover of Captured by Moonlight

Next week check out the following blogs to see what these fantastic writers are up to.

Rachel Phifer This is my # 1 writing critique partner, who has came in second in the 2008 ACFW Genesis, and won the Gold in the Genesis last year for her Women's Fiction novel, The Language of Sparrows. That award brought a wonderfl literary agent into Rachel's life, and I'm watching her career grow.

JoAnn Durgin  I call JoAnn Durgin the Christian Romance Queen. I love her light-hearted but deeply spiritual romances. Check out her latest, a Christmas Novella, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe.

Dina Slieman  This author is so good, Zondervan wanted to use her Book Love in Three Quarter Time to start their brand new digital line.



 

I prayed for my brother’s life to crash and burn.

Steve at 4 years old in 1976

My family on my paternal side is riddled with alcoholism. I call it the family plague. But this past year I’ve seen the Lord reach down and pull my younger brother up by the scruff of the neck and set him on the road to sobriety.

My brother, Steve, had no time for God. It was too painful to watch his life spiral out of control as he lived only for the next bottle of vodka. But before Steve would ever even think of God, I knew he had to reach bottom. About two years ago I began to pray that he’d reach that point, and reach it fast before all hope was lost.

The Lord answered those prayers. He allowed my brother to go down that long, long, destructive road, and at last he crashed.

He’d already lost two marriages, a home, and the opportunity to be a full-time dad to his two girls. But it wasn’t until he lost the love and respect of his youngest daughter that he finally woke up to what he was doing. It was when his fifteen-year-old Kristen wouldn’t return his phone calls or agree to see him that Steve finally realized he needed help.

That was only the start of the long road back to health. Even then, Steve kept returning to his addiction that held on to him like manacles around his wrists and ankles. But through prayer we began to see the release of my brother from this strangling hold.

We so often think of prayer as the last resort. But I’ve come to realize that prayer is not just that thing that helps us get things done—as if that were the inspiration behind our abilities and powers of persuasion.

Prayer is the work.

In the Book of Mark we read that the Lord’s disciples were trying to release a young man from demon possession. This young man was so much like my brother, throwing himself into the fire.

Jesus had already given his disciples the authority and the training to cast out evil spirits such as afflicted this young man. But nothing they did worked. It didn’t even seem to matter how much faith they had. Jesus Himself was able to cast out the demon and set this young man free.

The passage concludes with Jesus’ words, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

Prayer wasn’t the last resort in Jesus’ opinion. Prayer is the greatest work.

It is prayer and prayer alone that will cast the alcoholism from my brother. With God all things are possible.

Steve at 10 years old in 1982 with my little girl.

IF HE'S NOT THERE, in Heaven?

If you went home to Heaven, and Jesus wasn’t there, would you still be happy?” My friend looks me square in the eyes as she asks this.


I think quickly. With all the peace, joy—no more sorrow or tears—and endless delights in a celestial paradise—would I be content without the presence of Christ?

My immediate response is a blustering, “No. Without Jesus, of course I wouldn’t be happy in Heaven.

But after taking time to actually think the question over, and not give the automated, expected response, I realize I would be happy in Heaven without Jesus. Who wouldn’t be happy with all pain removed? It would certainly be a lot better than here on earth as it is right now.

Like everyone else walking this planet, I can look back on a lifetime of disappointments and heartaches. That's one of the benefits of living in the second half of my life. I can look back to all those difficult times and remember them at their bleakest.

But only by looking back, I can also see that God's presence was there. A sort of a spiritual trick of the light.

During those hard times His presence felt like a slim beam of light. Or He gave me just a smidgeon of strength to help me make it through to the next day. Somehow that strength was there for the day after that, and the day after . . .

At times all He gave me was the simple reminder that His word is true, and in it He says He loves me.

By looking back to those worst of times, and adding up all those seemingly small joys of His comfort, it dawns on me, how much I enjoyed His presence.

How much more joyful will Heaven be with His Presence?

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

LOST DONKEYS

You’ve heard the old adage, ‘cast your bread upon the waters and wait for it to come back to you’.

Well how about this adage, ‘looking for lost donkeys’?

Nope? Never heard of that one?

Lately I’ve been testing the waters to see what direction I should take with my career. Not being independently wealthy I need to bring in an income. I know, I know, who of us does not have financial difficulties? We all have our crosses to bear. Ooops, there’s another well-worn adage.
We all have our stresses. And we all reach crossroads at frequent intervals where we have to make decisions----will I go in that direction . . . or in this direction?

What should I do while I wait for my ship to come in?

You may be looking for a job, deciding what college to attend. Asking yourself, what should you focus on for a career or your art. Should you stay at your current job or apply to other places? Perhaps your health is the issue.

There’s an incident in the life of Saul that each time I read it, gives me comfort. The young Saul had no idea that God had chosen him to be the first king of Israel. He just figured he was an ordinary guy whose father was a farmer and owned a string of donkeys. One day those donkeys went missing, and Saul’s father sent him out to look for them.

Saul travelled through various areas, the hill country of Ephraim, passed through the land of Shalishah, etc., etc., etc. He looked for ages and all over the place. Saul could not find those donkeys.

I can connect with Saul’s long and unfruitful search for those financially strategic donkeys.

Funny thing is, God used that long and winding search to bring Saul to the prophet Samuel. The Lord had already revealed to Samuel that He had chosen Saul to be that first king. As Samuel unveiled this to Saul, he also told him that the donkeys he was searching for had been found and were already at home, and that God had a totally new direction for his life.

So, when you’re unclear about what direction to take in your life, or it seems that every iron you place in the fire doesn't get hot enough to provide for you, or you’re not sure which direction to cast your bread on the water, remember that God knows exactly where your lost donkeys are. He’ll bring them safely home in the right time.

The story of Saul and the lost donkeys is found in I Samuel 9 Be encouraged.

I’m counting the hours, polishing the zircon tiara, buffing up the glass high-heels, and pulling out my paste jewelry circa the 1940’s. Tomorrow morning I’m boarding the plane to fly to Dallas for the ACFW Conference. 

Okay, maybe I’m not really planning on wearing glass shoes or a tiara for the gala banquet, but I still feel like Cinderella preparing for the ball, and I do have paste jewelry that belonged to the mother of one of my mother's friends.

It’s so nice to be able to go to the conference this year—first time since 2008. But my what a difference in me from that year to now. I was a nervous wreck as I prepared to go then—worrying about my pitch . . . my one-sheet . . . my appointments with agents and editors. 

This year I’m not worrying about any of that. It’s not that I don’t need an agent. I’d give my eye-teeth to get literary representation. Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration there. I need to keep my teeth. And I really would love to sell a story to an editor and gain a nice big fat contract.

But the reason I have no stress in preparing for this conference is that I simply do not have anything ready to pitch.

Instead, I’m looking forward to meeting up with many of my writing peers and friends that I’ve made on-line since I attended my first Christian Writers’ Conference. I’m looking forward to squealing like a teenage girl when I see one of the many people I will recognize and who will recognize me. I’m looking forward to sitting up late in coffee shops or in another woman’s hotel room, crammed with a writing group from on-line, and yacking like a bunch of high-school girls. All we’ll need will be a place to sit on the floor, a crate of coke’s to drink, and gum to chew and blow bubbles with. We’re all such a clean-living bunch.

I’m going to have fun, fun, fun, encouraging others in this journey to publication.

And it all feels so right. If there is one thing that I’m learning in my—ahem—mature years, it’s that relationships are everything.  

The Lord reminds me of that in His word. He wants the focus of my life to be that blissful one-ness that I experience in my relationship with Him through Christ Jesus. It’s not what can accomplish for Him, but what 

He does when I’m totally yielded to His plans, His timing. Somehow when I focus on that love-relationship with Him, He sees to all the engineering of my life and career.

So, I’m boarding the plane tomorrow. My hubby will kiss me goodbye for the 4 days I’ll be away. My husband knows I’ll be in good hands, and will safely return, because it’s as though I’m going away on an intimate holiday with my Heavenly Father. Together my Lord and I will have a time of bliss getting together with my fellow writers.

I know this because I can feel it when I pray—His smile over my enjoyment of getting together with others whom He has blessed with the great desire to write for Him.

Dallas, here I come!!!

CLASH OF THE TITLES VOTE

2012 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Laura V. Hilton's novel, A Harvest of Hearts, is the winner of 

Clash of the Titles' second annual Laurel Award.

Congratulations, Laura!

Laura will receive: a beautiful banner to proudly display on her website, a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, A Harvest of Hearts, a podcast interview with author and Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia Simmons, a feature tour on COTT's Blog Alliance, and a lovely plaque.

A Harvest of Hearts was chosen by a panel of judges who, by means of a score sheet narrowed the list of competing authors to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote, and A Harvest of Hearts took the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest.

BOOK SUMMARY:



A participant in a swap of Amish men, independent yet kindhearted Matthew Yoder can't wait to leave the vast farmland of Lancaster County and make a fresh start in Missouri, where he'll move in with the Stoltzfus family until he finds a place of his own.



Strong–minded yet filled with compassion, Shanna Stoltzfus always dreamed of becoming a nurse, despite her father's threats to shun her. Determined to follow her heart, Shanna ran away and enrolled in college. But when her classmates embark on a medical mission trip that Shanna can't afford, she must turn to the last place she wants to go for help: home.



Even though Shanna still flirts with the people and practices of her Englisch life, Matthew is fascinated by the Stoltzfuses' prodigal daughter, and a close friendship soon blossoms between them. When the tension escalates between Shanna and her father to the point where his health is in jeopardy, Shanna is forced to face some tough issues, including the question of where her true home is.



PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON

AMISH FICTION---STILL POPULAR

2012 LAUREL AWARD WINNER

Author Laura V. Hilton's novel, A Harvest of Hearts, is the winner of 

Clash of the Titles' second annual Laurel Award.

Congratulations, Laura!

Laura will receive: a beautiful banner to proudly display on her website, a year-long page on COTT dedicated to the winning book, A Harvest of Hearts, a podcast interview with author and Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia Simmons, a feature tour on COTT's Blog Alliance, and a lovely plaque.

A Harvest of Hearts was chosen by a panel of judges who, by means of a score sheet narrowed the list of competing authors to three. From there, the panel put their choices to a straight vote, and A Harvest of Hearts took the crown.

Special thanks to each of our judges who volunteered their time to this contest.

BOOK SUMMARY:



A participant in a swap of Amish men, independent yet kindhearted Matthew Yoder can't wait to leave the vast farmland of Lancaster County and make a fresh start in Missouri, where he'll move in with the Stoltzfus family until he finds a place of his own.



Strong–minded yet filled with compassion, Shanna Stoltzfus always dreamed of becoming a nurse, despite her father's threats to shun her. Determined to follow her heart, Shanna ran away and enrolled in college. But when her classmates embark on a medical mission trip that Shanna can't afford, she must turn to the last place she wants to go for help: home.



Even though Shanna still flirts with the people and practices of her Englisch life, Matthew is fascinated by the Stoltzfuses' prodigal daughter, and a close friendship soon blossoms between them. When the tension escalates between Shanna and her father to the point where his health is in jeopardy, Shanna is forced to face some tough issues, including the question of where her true home is.



PURCHASE THE BOOK ON AMAZON