Never Look Back

I have found an author I've never read before. She is a wonderful writer, story pulled me right in!

The day Ivy Griffith walks out of jail after serving her sentence for withholding evidence in the Joe Hadley murder case, she is ready to put her years of pain and drug abuse behind her. A new job at her parents’ Christian camp in Colorado promises stability in this new season, but she is unprepared for her brother’s indifference toward her and her son, Montana . When camp worker Rue Kessler takes an interest in Montana, Ivy hopes the attention will make up for the rejection her son is feeling—and she doesn’t mind the attention Rue directs her way either.

Then a rash of crimes turns deadly, and Ivy suspects that Rue isn’t all he appears to be. But how can she condemn another when she knows the pain of accusation? The mysteries increase as Ivy struggles to move beyond the secrets of her past. Along the way, she discovers that the hardest person to forgive might be herself.

This fast-paced suspense novel continues the Phantom Hollow series with a rich exploration of the risks and possibilities of starting over.

Cover art:

Author Bio: Award-winning author Kathy Herman has been on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) and at Better Books Christian Center in Texas . She has conducted educational seminars at CBA conventions in the U.S. and Canada , served as a judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards, and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market. She is the author of twelve novels, including the bestsellers Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden. Kathy and her husband, Paul, live in Tyler , Texas .

Author Photo:

Mosaic

by Amy Grant


I agreed to review this book because as a person, a Christian, and an artist, Amy Grant touches and inspires me. I was thrilled to get a chance to see her more personal side, which you are able to do in writing. (Well, I'm a writer so that works for me anyway.)

I totally identified with Amy's desire for balance and her struggle to attain it. Her stories were warm and touching and sometimes surprising, yet gave me renewed vigor to continue to strive not only for balance, but for a closer walk with God.

I have two copies to give away so sign a comment and I will draw a names of the winners next Wednesday, the 24th of October.

Grammy Award–winning artist Amy Grant has lived in the spotlight since bursting onto the Christian music scene as a teenager thirty years ago. In that time her work, marriage, and spiritual life have been subject to varying degrees of adulation and criticism.
Now, in her first autobiographical book, Grant bares her heart and soul, giving readers an intimate glimpse into her everyday life and the lessons she’s learning along the way. From lighthearted reminiscences of her Tennessee childhood to painfully honest reflections on the journey of faith, her vivid writing draws readers into her world while simultaneously creating space for them to rethink their own perspectives on life.
With honesty and depth, Grant offers poignant and often startling insights on motherhood, marriage, friendship, faith, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Never-before-shared stories about her husband, country music star Vince Gill, provide a look into her life as a celebrity, while intimate portraits of her mother and musings on the past reveal the various pieces of a life blessed with jagged edges as well as vivid colors. Readers will find their preconceived notions of this music icon stripped away as they settle in for a warmly satisfying conversation with a gracious and wise friend.

Amy Grant is the best-selling Christian music artist of all time and the first to garner the number one spot on Billboard’s chart. Since beginning her career at age 17, she has earned six Grammy Awards and twenty-five Dove Awards, and last year she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Grant’s numerous television appearances include Oprah; Good Morning, America ; and Late Night with David Letterman. In 2007 she’ll tour nationwide, performing with local symphonies in Atlanta , Minneapolis , Kansas City, and elsewhere.

Bayou Justice

by Robin Caroll


Let me say that this is one of the best novels I've read. Robin has a way with words and characters (one of the characters just happens to be the setting). I'm not saying this just because she's my friend, she is truly a phenomenal author.

Hi Robin, so glad you could join us today.

Thanks, Pammer. I’m thrilled to be here.

Was there a special way you met your husband?

LOL, actually there is, but it’s quite amusing to me. I met him through my employment. He worked at a different store location, but for the same company and I met him once or twice through company events. We didn’t like each other—at all! LOL I left the company to work for another one, and months later, he was promoted to the store manager of the location where I’d worked. His secretary put in her notice right when he’d scheduled his vacation to go to California. He contacted his supervisor with the dilemma, and the supervisor advised him to contact me and hire me back since I knew the systems and could take care of the office while he was on vacation. Even though he didn’t like me, he was between a rock and a hard place. He chose the lesser of the evils and called me. I came back to the company and he went on vacation. When he returned, we had to work closely together, and during that time, we became friends. And the rest, well, that’s history. :D

Does that play into your writing?

I think so. My husband’s very romantic (if he reads this, he’ll be so embarrassed) and I use that aspect of our relationship into consideration when I’m working on the romance thread of my books.

How did you go about choosing the Bayou for your setting?

Easy….my mentor and I were brainstorming and looking at how I, the author, was different than other suspense/rs writers. Obviously, the southern background came into discussion. And then we realized that there are southern suspense/rs/mystery writers, but very few who write about the bayou in the CBA. So that’s the “story behind the setting.” LOL

Which came first in this story, the spiritual thread, the plot, the setting or the characters?

I never plan my spiritual threads, I just pray God will show me the arc He wants me to use…..normally after writing the first several chapters, I “get” the thread. I’ve recently been shown a parallel between my own spiritual lessons learned and the themes that show up in my books! In this story, the setting definitely came first, but I look at the setting as one of the characters. I try to make it either work for or against my heroine or villain, and plan accordingly. So for this book, it was the setting, the characters, the plot, then the spiritual thread.

I love your heroine's occupation! How did you end up choosing that particular job?

I was looking at what could she be that could ONLY apply to the setting I chose. I really wanted this first book in the series to drive home the setting, and what sets it apart from any other place.

What do you feel the spiritual theme of this book is?

Waiting on God’s timing.

Does it relate to real life for you?

LOLOLOLOL…..uh, yeah! LOL In the past few years, God has put me in a situation that I have NO CHOICE BUT to wait on Him. No matter how frustrating and how much I’d like to rush the end of the situation, I can’t. It’s all His timing. I’ve had to learn to accept that. So in the book, my heroine has to learn that everything’s in God’s timing, not our own. It’s a HARD lesson to learn, and I think we continually have to work on that issue. At least I do. :D

Do you consider yourself to be a pantser or a plotter?

A mix. I start out with very indepth character synopses and backgrounds. Once I know the conflict between h/h/v, then I work to plot the main story against those. But the flow of writing I keep open so my characters can surprise me. I’ve learned some very interesting things that way! LOL

Do you use storyboards?

No. I use sticky notes. Let me explain that. On my desk overhead, I have different color sticky notes for h/h/v and major plot points. I stick them up there and when I address that certain issue on that note, I trash it. Looking at the different colors helps keep the threads balanced. At least I hope so! :D

One just for fun. How do you think CoCo would describe you?

See, that’s difficult. CoCo has a LOT of my personality built into her. I think we’d be friends, if we wouldn’t butt heads too much like we did when I was writing her. LOL I think she’d also hate the faults I also shared with her.

When is the next novel due out?

Bayou Corruption is the story of Alyssa LeBlanc, CoCo’s middle sister. It’s due out Feb 08. Bayou Judgment is the story of Felicia Trahan, Luc’s sister. It’s due out May 08. Bayou Paradox is the story of Tara LeBlanc, the youngest sister. It’s due out Sept 08.

Thank you so much for stopping by and giving us such an in depth look into the mind of a writer.

That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? LOL Seriously, thank you for hosting me, Pammer. I’ve had fun!

I for one can't wait for the sequel to Bayou Justice to come out. Those of you who haven't read Bayou Justice, WHAT are you waiting for?

I'm sorry but the pictures won't post for some reason. I will try to get those in later.

William Tell Overture

This is a hoot!

I stole it from Pam Meyers and she stole it from Cara Putman.

New Releases for October

1. A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman from Bethany House Publishers. The story of two grieving mothers on opposite sides of a wrongful death lawsuit.

2. A Season Of Forgiveness by Brenda Coulter, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Can a home-loving worrywart find happiness with a world-traveling "extreme" sportsman?

3. A Vow to Cherish, (mass market size)Prequel to Within This Circle by Deborah Raney from Steeple Hill Books. When his precious wife receives a devastating diagnosis, John Brighton must decide how he will keep his wedding vows to the woman he loves.

4. And Baby Makes Five, Monterey Peninsula Series Book 1 of a 3 book series by Gail Gaymer Martin from Barbour Heartsong Presents. A pregnant, widowed migrant worker in labor, a wealthy ranch owner who lost his wife and son in childbirth, and God's miraculous blessings.

5. Bayou Justice by Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When an alligator conservationist finds a dead body in the bayou, which just happens to be the grandfather of her ex-fiancee, she and her family, along with her ex, are prime suspects and must work together to solve the murder before the Cajun killer strikes again.

6. Beginnings Book 2 in the Sommerfeld Trilogy by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Barbour Publishing. Beth Quinn is starting over in her career, home, and relationships...but where does her heart truly belong?

7. Buried Secrets sequel to Heart of the Amazon by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. With people after them, Zach and Maggie race to find a treasure worth killing for.

8. Canteen Dreams Nebraska Brides series Book one by Cara Putman from Heartsong Presents. Can two people find love and a way to serve in the shadow of World War Two?

9. Race to the Altar by Gail Sattler, Ron Benrey, Gloria Clover, and Becky Melby and Cathy Wienke from Barbour Publishing. Romance is in the air for NASCAR fans.

10. Sanctuary Faith of Our Fathers series Book One of Three by Molly Noble Bull from Tsaba House. When Rachel Levin's loved ones are murdered, she flees her village with a handsome Huguenot, but a French captain wants her as his mistress. Or he wants her dead.

11. Sarah, My Beloved The Little Hickman Creek Series by Sharlene MacLaren from Whitaker House. Sparks fly, igniting the embers of love, when two warring misfits marry for convenience. Just enough plot twists to make for an unpredictable read.

12. The Blue Moon, Mysteries of Sparrow Island, Book 3, by Lorena McCourtney from Guideposts. A bird expert on the San Juan Islands finds a blue-diamond necklace, and way too many dangerous people are eager to claim it.

13. Walk Me to Midnight by Jane St Clair from Capstone Fiction. A writer and a psychologist team up to prove their friend was murdered by the famous doctor of death.

14. Who Am I? Massachusetts Wedding series, Book 1, by Lena Nelson Dooley from Heartsong Presents. When Leiann Hambrick's mother dies, Leiann discovers that the man who raised her isn't her father and she has a grandfather she never knew. Not everyone wants her to know who she really is.

15. Your Chariot Awaits, The Andi McConnell Mysteries, Book 1, by Lorena McCourtney from Thomas Nelson. An older woman unexpectedly acquires a limousine, but now there's the problem of that dead body in the trunk.

Happy reading~

Compiled by Jill Eileen Smith. Thanks Jill!