All right, so I have a funny story to share about today's author. She's a debut author with Bethany House, just like our author from last week. Becky, though, happens to share the name with a friend of mine at my church...a lady who does not write at all. Yet, when that Becky went into the bookstore a couple weeks ago, she saw this Becky's book on the shelf and had to pick it up. And she came up to tell me a couple days later. So, I'll be certain to email her a link to this guest post. She'll likely enjoy reading it too. :)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BECKY WADE makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three children, and one adoring (and adored) cavalier spaniel. Her inspirational contemporary romance, My Stubborn Heart, has just been released by Bethany House.
During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for several years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. Her first contemporary Christian romance, My Stubborn Heart, has just been released by Bethany House.
These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/authorbeckywade
MY STUBBORN HEART
by Becky Wade
Published by Bethany House
ABOUT THE BOOK
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.
Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can't help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can't quite put her finger on. He's clearly wounded--hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light... whether he likes it or not.
When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?
Readers, buy your copy of My Stubborn Heart today!
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR
Writers and Food
Tiffany graciously invited me to blog about any topic related to the life of a fiction writer so I decided on the auspicious subject of FOOD. More particularly, what writers eat, drink, and snack on during writing and how they go about all this nibbling, lunching, and sipping. I (very un-scientifically) polled my fellow Bethany House authors about their food quirks and the following are the categories that developed.
HEALTHY EATERS:
Deeanne Gist: "When on deadline, I order healthy food already prepared and boxed in individual portions. I have it delivered. If I don't, then I would subsist on Ding Dongs. Not good."
Tamera Alexander: "Salads! And gluten free snacks. Our dinners are pretty simple since my husband is diabetic. We do a meat and lots of veggies. Makes cooking a lot easier too. Which leaves more time to write!"
MY-SPOUSE-IS-SO-AWESOME-THAT-THEY-DEAL-WITH-THE-COOKING WRITERS:
Mary Connealy: "My husband does 90% of the cooking these days. So I sit and type and wait for those three little words all women love to hear above all others...........Dinner is ready!"
J. Mark Bertrand: "My wife will come in at six and say, "Ready for dinner?" I'll ask for a few more minutes [to write], and next thing I know it's a quarter to ten."
EAT AT THEIR DESK WRITERS:
Becky Wade: "I fix myself a boring sandwich almost every day for lunch, bring it to my desk, and eat it while I'm writing. I'm usually just plodding through it so I can get to dessert. Chocolate, of course!"
Deeanne Gist: "I eat at my desk, but usually check emails at that time. When I'm done eating, I go back to writing."
LUNCH BREAK WRITERS:
Ann Tatlock: "I scrounge the fridge for leftovers, though I very often end up throwing together a salad with cottage cheese and crackers. I take time away from my desk and sit at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper. Then I'm fine until my husband comes home and asks the inevitable: "What should we have for supper?" Arrgg!! Who wants Chinese tonight?!? Call for pizza! Does Applebee's deliver?"
Nancy Mehl: "I take a lunch break. Two hours. I feel like I need the time to unwind completely."
Tamera Alexander: "I *try* to take a "true lunch break" and step away from the laptop and go sit outside on the deck with my lunch (weather permitting) or grab a book and crash in the keeping room for a few minutes."
COFFEE AND TEA ADDICTS:
Lisa Wingate: "A nice warm cup of my mom's instant Chai Tea feels like a luxury, but is really pretty healthy. I just say, "Mom, I'm out of Chai Tea," and within a few days another recycled instant tea jar appears with the mix in it and I'm all set for a month or so."
Elizabeth Camden: "I normally inhale coffee while working......but the heroine of my last manuscript loves Earl Grey Tea....and I developed an odd affinity for it too! I suppose this is an occupational hazard. I often develop a bizarre affection for whatever my characters really love. I bought a lot of pricey perfume while working on The Rose of Winslow Street, whose hero is a perfumer."
Nancy Mehl: "I drink coffee or tea while I write. Love it. Don't usually eat, unless it's popcorn."
J. Mark Bertrand: "When I'm writing, I drink a lot of coffee. Someone gave us a Keurig machine for Christmas, so the last book I wrote probably cost more in coffee pods than the advance will cover! (I'm exaggerating, but those things are pretty expensive.) I'm back on french press and espresso now, which tastes better and isn't nearly as expensive."
Tamera Alexander: "Iced tea––made with regular tea bags plus one Constant Comment tea bag, and sweetened with Xylitol––served in a wine glass. Every day. No fail. Keep it comin', babe! Why save wine glasses for special occasions? Every day is special. ;)"
Becky Wade: "A mug of hot tea after lunch. English Teatime with creamer and Truvia. Steaming hot!"
CHOCOHOLIC SNACKERS:
Regina Jennings: "I'm paranoid about having drinks near the laptop, what with errant footballs flying and naked Barbies in need of dressing flung my direction. Of course, M&Ms won't short out a keyboard, so I keep a supply handy. Peanut is the flavor of choice."
Elizabeth Ludwig: "All right...I admit it...that's me. I eat trail mix with dark chocolate M&M's added in. Dark chocolate's okay though, right?? Antioxidants. That's what I tell myself. :-)"
Julie Klassen: "I have a terrible sweet-tooth and on those days when I have to push myself to keep working, a dish of nuts or dried fruit or dark chocolate is sometimes just the "carrot" I need."
* * * * *
Thank you, Becky, for sharing with us today.
Guest Question: Attention blog readers! Spill the beans. Which of the above categories do you fall into? What do you most like to eat or drink while writing?
ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a
FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.
This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.
It thrills me to be able to do this, because I get to also give a personal shout-out to the folks I know. Here are your 2012 Genesis finalists:
