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Showing posts with label giveaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giveaway. Show all posts
Friday, October 10, 2025
Friday, September 26, 2025
Your Weekend Read: MIRACLES AND GHOSTS PAST
Please welcome dear friend and fellow author D.L. Finn.
Thank you, Sandra, for having me on your beautiful blog today to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two! I’m beyond grateful for your constant support and friendship.
“Christmas Rescue” was originally in my first Christmas Collection. I pulled it because it wasn’t going anywhere. When I came back to it later, it all came together. Opal’s had a bad year. Her mother died, and her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her in heavy debt. The worst part was that he took their dog too. All she could do was quit school and start working to pay off the debt. Not feeling her usual Christmas spirit, she still plans to host her aunt, uncle, and cousins as her mother would have. She needs some supplies on Christmas Eve. A big storm is coming, and she finds people are already home, but in one dark parking lot, she isn’t alone.
BLURB:
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.” She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
EXCERPT FROM: Christmas Rescue, 1975
This Christmas Day, she’d paste on a smile, but inside lurked the Grinch before his heart grew three sizes. If time could pause, she would have the chance to breathe and dream again, but time and bills continued to march forward, unfazed even by the world’s Grinches.
“Perhaps life is meant to be endured, not enjoyed.”
Opal immediately felt guilty, knowing her mom would disapprove of that statement. But Opal’s mom wasn’t there to hear it after her fatal heart attack. It was going to be her first Christmas without her mom, who had been her best friend.
Still, she attempted to be positive in memory of her mom. “I know I have this house and my bartending job. But if I sold the house and got an apartment, I could finish getting my teaching degree. Which means I’d leave my childhood home and all the memories that come with it.” Opal sighed and wiped away a single tear. “I miss you, Mom, and you were right about many things—including Sam.”
That name repulsed her like a gory horror movie. With a shudder, she thrust away thoughts of her ex. She picked up a silver bell that had fallen off the Christmas tree and put it on an empty branch. The silver bell swung and stilled. She turned her back to the colorful tree to prepare the house for her guests, but the small silver bell started ringing like it was atop a church.
“Either an angel got their wings, or my walking jiggled the bell.”
Opal leaned toward the latter. She placed her mom’s porcelain nativity scene on the fireplace mantel. Her youngest niece, Lisa, was obsessed with the nativity. Lisa was convinced the angel was real and was watching over them. The sweet girl was always on her best behavior around it.
Even surrounded by all this good cheer, regret wouldn’t allow her to forget. It overshadowed everything. Three months after her mom died, her ex-boyfriend moved across the country with her inheritance and Beauty, the sweet pup she still missed. All Sam left behind were maxed-out credit card bills. Unfortunately, she was the primary cardholder; he had been able to charge with no responsibility for any of the debt. This had alarmed her mom, but Opal was in love, or thought she was, and didn’t listen. After her mom passed, Opal continued with her bad decisions, which included adding Sam’s name to her savings account after he pointed out it made sense since they were getting married. She thought that was his proposal, but no ring followed, just a breakup.
FUN FINN FACTS
1. My favorite Christmas songs are: O Holy Night, Carol of the Bells, Silent Night, Happy Christmas (War is Over), Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow, Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmastime is Here, It’s beginning to look like Christmas, White Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas, The Christmas Song, Little Saint Nick, A Holly Jolly Christmas….I could go on. I couldn’t pick just one or two!
2. I start Christmas shopping in July or August.
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
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To celebrate the release, I will be giving away three Amazon Gift Cards: $5, $10, and $15. At the end of the tour, I will randomly pick the three winners from those who leave comments during the blog tour. Good Luck!
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Tsunami Crimes
With us today is our writer pal Chrys Fey to talk about her latest release. Welcome, Chrys. I asked our friend to tell us how she develops her characters and this was her response:
I typically do three things. The first is finding someone I can model my characters after, which tends to be actors/actresses. This doesn’t mean my characters are these people, but rather that I use their images when I first create my characters. This gives me a solid foundation to build upon. With actors in mind, it’s easy to visualize my characters doing and saying things. They seem alive, and from that point on I can mold my characters into who they truly are.
To do that, I give them parts of myself. I pretend my characters, with the faces of actors, are me. This helps me to give them emotions and depth. What would I do? How would I feel? Everything they do, I put myself in their shoes. I am looking out at the world through their eyes. Sometimes, my characters come from my dreams, which makes it that much easier for me to believe we are linked.
Finally, I treat them as if they are real people. I do everything I can to make them three-dimensional. I don’t create a spreadsheet of facts for them, although that is a great idea. Instead, I just peel back their layers in my mind and uncover who they are. What makes them unique? How can I make readers identify with them? With these answers, I can develop well-rounded characters.
BLURB:
Beth and Donovan have come a long way from Hurricane Sabrina and the San Francisco earthquake. Now they are approaching their wedding day and anxiously waiting to promise each other a lifetime of love. The journey down the aisle isn’t smooth, though, as they receive threats from the followers of the notorious criminal, Jackson Storm. They think they’ll be safe in Hawaii, but distance can’t stop these killers. Not even a tsunami can.
This monstrous wave is the most devastating disaster Beth has ever faced. It leaves her beaten, frightened. Is she a widow on her honeymoon? As she struggles to hold herself together and find Donovan, she’s kidnapped by Jackson's men.
Fearing her dead, Donovan searches the rubble and shelters with no luck. The thought of her being swept out to sea is almost too much for him to bear, but the reality is much worse. She’s being used as bait to get him to fall into a deadly trap.
If they live through this disaster, they may never be the same again.
On SALE for $2.99!
BUY LINKS:
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series. She is a blogger, reader, auntie, vegetarian, and cat Lover. Get Lightning Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2.5) for FREE!
FIND CHRYS:
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Dangerous Sanctuary
With us
today is good bud J.Q. Rose. And she’s got a fun new release.
Welcome, J.Q.
Hi
Sandra. Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. Because your stories
have so much imagination, I thought I would share a phone conversation I
overheard when visiting with my main character, Pastor Christine Hobbs this
week.
You know
how nearly everyone has a nosey neighbor in the neighborhood. Well, the
pastor’s neighbor called her to find out about the murder at Pastor Christine’s
church. Realizing the neighbor’s right to be concerned since she lives near the
church and parsonage, Christine took time to answer her questions. Perhaps
they’re some of the same questions your readers may have about this romantic
suspense, Dangerous Sanctuary.
To win a PDF copy of Dangerous Sanctuary, please leave a comment below. A lucky
commenter will be drawn on Sunday, January 8, at 10 pm EST. Good luck!
Phone Conversation between Pastor
Christine and her Nosey Neighbor
Nosey
Neighbor: Oh, Pastor, what in the world happened over at Dayspring Church?
Ambulance, fire engines, police were over there on Thursday morning.
Pastor
Christine: Oh dear. I bet you were scared when you saw all the emergency units
here at the church. I’m sorry I didn’t call you. It’s been pretty crazy around
here.
Unfortunately
our talented Director of Music, William White, was found dead in our church
basement. We’re trying to deal with it
as best we can. We’re having a difficult time imagining anyone would murder
this kind young man.
Detective
Cole Stephens considers our custodian, Dutch, and myself to be “persons of
interest.” Perhaps you saw something
from your window that morning that could help the police with the
investigation?
NN: Oh,
no Pastor. I didn’t see anything till the emergency vehicles arrived. I must admit I did see the story on the news
and in the newspapers. It’s so ridiculous how the stations play the story over
and over 24 hours a day. But what is crazier is to accuse you and that gentle
custodian of murder. I’m so sorry this has happened at your church.
PC:
Thank you.
NN: Can
you tell me how you came to minister to the people at Dayspring Church? I mean
they’ve NEVER had a female pastor in all the years I’ve lived next door.
PC: I love being the spiritual leader of the
folks at Dayspring. I’ve been there about a year now, but I’ve been in the
pulpit for five years at another church. I was happy to move away from that
area, not because I had problems at the other church, but because I could put
distance between my ex-husband, Brad, and me.
I’m
having a terrific experience getting to know so many wonderful people at
Dayspring. We’re becoming a family. Of course, there are always conflicts that
arise when dealing with so many personalities. The president of the women’s
group, Mrs. Jewell is not exactly happy that I’m caring for a pig and kangaroo
in the back yard of the church parsonage and that I’ve taken in Mrs. Whitcomb’s
cat after she passed. I’m looking for a family who wants the darling tabby cat.
Bitsy is litter trained and I have re-assured the parsonage committee that
Bitsy has not had any accidents on the church-owned parsonage floors. Say, you
wouldn’t consider taking in this adorable cat, would you?
NN: Oh no, Pastor. I’m very allergic to cats. I
was wondering about the animals in your back yard though.
PC:
Well, yes. Now the backyard is another story…you know pigs like to root up the
ground and eat everything in sight. I keep telling President Jewell that it’s
just temporary, and I’ll replace all the bushes, trees, flowers, and grass when
their owner re-claims the animals.
NN: How
much longer will they be there for heaven’s sake? Of course, they aren’t
bothering me, but Wilda just a few doors down from the parsonage is worried
that pig is going to get loose and root up her yard! And, uh, I’m sure she’s
also concerned the pig might get in the road and get run over.
PC: Of
course, she’s concerned about the pig getting hurt…Please assure her the
animals will be gone as soon as their owner is healthy again. She’s in the
hospital. And, well it’s a long story how I ended up with Abraham the pig and
Katy the kangaroo in the back yard.
NN: I
often see the flower shop’s delivery truck at the church and in your driveway. You
know, I just notice when I’m outside walking. I’m not watching out the window
at your comings and goings, of course.
PC: That
would be my friend Lacey, the gal who owns the flower shop. She’s the petite strawberry blonde. We tease
each other about our difference in height because I’m six feet tall. With the weddings and funerals, she’s always
delivering flowers to the church, so we have time to talk and get to know each
other.
NN: You know, I have a very tall nephew who’s
divorced. He’s a sweet guy and after awhile, you don’t notice his big ears or
his lisp. Can you date being a minister?
PC: Well,
yes I can. I’m not a monk. I’m a real person who likes to enjoy a movie, and a
beer and pizza with my friends. Thank you so much for wanting to introduce me
to your nephew, but I’m just not ready to date anyone yet.
NN: Not
even thinking about that cute Detective Stephens? I’ve seen him going into the
church and parsonage—a lot!
PC:
Strictly for the murder investigation. Why would I be interested in a man who
wants to put me in jail for murder?
NN: Why,
of course not. I’m sorry I asked, but he IS around a lot and I just thought…
PC: Hey,
look at the time. I’m almost late for a meeting at the church. Good talking to
you. I’ve got to run. Good-bye.
NN:
Okay. Well, I’ll bring my nephew over when he stops in again. Uh, hello….hello.
Are you there???
# # # #
TAGLINE: Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be
caring for a flock that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
BLURB: Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Pastor Christine Hobbs has been in the pulpit business
for over five years. She never imagined herself caring for a flock that
includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Detective Cole Stephens doesn't want the pretty pastor to get away
with murdering the church music director. His investigative methods infuriate
Christine as much as his deep brown eyes attract her.
Can they find the real killer and build a loving relationship
based on trust?
BUY LINKS
Available at amazon
Paperback http://amazon.com/dp/1772992933
About J.Q.
After writing feature articles in magazines,
newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years,
Connect with J.Q. Rose online at
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