Flight of Fancy ~ Peek At My Bookshelf

Break out the scones and get ready to chat because Laurie Alice Eakes stopped by today!

I'm taking a break from sharing my all time favorites to tell you about a new volume of fantastic story telling that just found its home on my bookshelf.

Flight of Fancy by the fabulous Laurie Alice Eakes is a very unique romance. We're all used to that against-the-grain, buck-the-system, out-of-the-norm heroine and we love her deeply. But Cassandra Bainbridge has a different way to avoid the norms of society - she wants to go over them.

If you follow Laurie Alice on twitter or facebook, you've been seeing her fabulous articles on ballooning. While today it's not all that uncommon to see a hot air balloon float by (if you're in the right place at the right time, you could see a whole flock of them) but in the early 19th century, it was quite a novelty.

Flight of Fancy is a beautiful tale of imperfect people and a perfect God. And a hot air balloon that manages to almost be a character in its own right.

The official blurb for Flight of Fancy:

Her head is in the clouds. His feet are planted firmly on the ground. Can love cover the distance?

Cassandra Bainbridge may be a bit of a bluestocking, but when Geoffrey Giles is near, love seems a fine alternative to passion for Greek and the physics of flight. With his dashing good looks and undying devotion to her, the earl of Whittaker sets Cassandra's heart racing with his very presence. It seems his only flaw is his distaste for ballooning, the obsession that consumes so much of her thoughts.

When a terrible accident compels her to end her betrothal, Cassandra heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. With time on her hands and good friends to help her, she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when Lord Whittaker slips back into her life, will she have to choose between him and her dream?

And now give a warm welcome to Laurie Alice Eakes!

What is your favorite procrastination activity for those days you know you should be writing, but don't feel like it? 

Reading either research materials or obscure news articles. I’m a news junky.

What authors have inspired your writing style? 

I’d say Patricia Veryan and, to a lesser extent, Georgette Heyer, Jane Aiken Hodge and, don’t laugh at me, Charles Dickens.

You've written a lot of books. Do you still remember the first time you held a copy of your first book? What advice would you give to writers still trying to reach that milestone? 

Oh, yes, I remember. I was living in a high rise outside Washington, D.C., and the concierge called me over to tell me I had a package. He set the box on the counter, I took out my keys and opened it there, then stood hugging the top book in the box—it was a hardcover.

Advice? Just keep writing. Nothing gets you closer faster than perseverance. And be willing to learn and listen to criticism. It isn’t always nice. It isn’t always right, and it is mostly worth sifting for a crumb of truth for improvement.

What had been your favorite "author" moment? 

Seems like each new one is better than the last. The most recent favorite is sitting down in Dallas with two editors and a marketing person from my dream publisher to talk about my upcoming Regency series for them. I was so excited and nervous I completely missed dinner and didn’t even notice—until midnight when I was starving. I felt like, “Wow, this is really happening.”

You can learn more about Laurie Alice and Flight of Fancy on Regency Reflections all this week. You can also answer some trivia questions for a chance to win a wonderful gift basket that includes an Amazon gift card.

Flight of Fancy is available from most major retailers. Special thanks to Laurie Alice and Revell for my copy of the book.

Fancy Pants ~ A Peek at My Bookshelf

While I enjoy the western setting for books, rarely do these stories become my all time favorites. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule and today I'm talking about one of those.

I picked up Fancy Pants first because of the cover. If ever there was an example of cover art making a sale, this is it. As you can see, the image of a girl in a tub looking extremely guilty is not common cover art for an inspirational novel. It's not even common art for a secular novel to be honest.

But it is intriguing. Even moreso when you realize it's actually a scene out of the book.

Have I grabbed your attention yet?

Fancy Pants starts out as a classic story of hidden/mistaken identity. To flee her circumstances, Sydney dresses up like a man because, well, it's 1890 and men can still do a whole lot more than women. Plus she's hiding with her woman-hating uncle.

Beyond that, the story doesn't fall into any traditional or typical lines. Watching Sydney come into her own and learn her own strengths is entertaining and encouraging at the same time.

There's just enough underdog in her to make you cheer for her, enough sass to make you laugh, and enough hardship to make you yell at the other characters. I always consider it a good book if I feel like yelling at the characters.

Fancy Pants is written by Cathy Marie Hake and is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book Distributors as well as many local bookstores.

Official blurb for Fancy Pants:

When Big Tim Creighton spies the mincing fop headed toward Forsaken Ranch, he is appalled. Thankful his boss isn't around to witness the arrival of his kin, Tim decides he'll turn "Fancy Pants" Hathwell into a man worthy of respect.

Lady Sydney Hathwell never intended to don men's attire, but when her uncle mistakenly assumed she was a male, the answer to her problems seemed clear. Her disguise as "Syd" was meant to be temporary...but the arranged marriage she's fleeing, her uncle's attitude toward the fairer sex - and her own pride - compel her to continue the guise far longer than she had planned.

When her deception is exposed, will she be forced to abandon her hopes for family... and true love?

A Trip Down Fantasy Lane ~ Peek At My Bookshelf

The book I'm highlighting today is not written from a Christian perspective. Please use your own discretion when choosing your reading material. 

Today I'm taking you on a journey into the imagination. I've always had an affinity for fairy tales. Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, these were all stories that fascinated me growing up and then again as an adult.

If you love fairy tales, then you need to check out some of Robin McKinley's older books. She has reworked several classic stories with a novel twist. While I highly recommend both of her renditions of Beauty and the Beast (books entitled Beauty and Rose Daughter) my favorite is Spindle's End which is based off the story of Sleeping Beauty.


Spindle's End takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and turns it on it's head. Unlike traditional versions of the story, the protective fairy godmothers have no connection to the royal family and gain the custodianship of the princess almost by accident.


I don't wish to ruin the book for anyone, so I will simply tell you that everything from the gifts bestowed by other fairy godmothers to the confrontation with the evil fairy gets a unique twist. Romance, friendship, family, and community are entertwined with communicating animals and a magic-infested land in a quirky, fresh story.

Robin McKinley with her hellhounds.

Robin McKinley was unable to stop by today, but you can learn more about her and her life in England filled with gardening, dogs, and handbells by visiting her webpage. Visit her FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and enjoy reading her rather long-winded but entertaining answers to questions such as "Where do you get your ideas?" and "If you weren't a writer what would you be?"


Some of my favorite giggles came with the questions "Why are all your answers so long?" and "Will you read my manuscript?"


If you're looking for something new to read and enjoy the fantasy genre, pick up a copy of Spindle's End.


Do you read any fantasy? Have you read Spindle's End or a different Robin McKinley book before?

Suspense Cake with Romantic Icing ~ Book Highlight #2

Confession Number One: Summer hit me like a... a.... thing that hits people really hard. I started to say blender but that makes no sense. Then I thought of a category 5 hurricane, but that seems irreverent to people who have lost everything in one. So... yeah. Come up with your own cool analogy and insert it here.

That's really showing my chops as a writer, isn't it?

What it really means is that I still didn't get time to interview the amazing Jillian Kent. I'm going to tell you about her new book anyway because today, and maybe tomorrow - I'm not sure how long the sale is - you can get the eBook version for just $2.99! (Nook link here.)

Jillian was over at Regency Reflections a couple of weeks ago, so you can read that interview and get to know her a bit. The book give-away is over, but the interview is still good.

Confession Number Two: When I first started reading Chameleon,  I had to stop and put it down for a while. The villain really gave me the willies. I was reading it before I went to bed at night and I discovered that was such a bad idea. I dreamed of menacing black birds for three days.

I did finish (I had to! Can't leave bad guys running around willy-nilly.) and I can confidently say that if you like your cake made of suspense with a thick coating of romance icing, you'll want a big slice of Chameleon. 

The plot is intricate and a bit twisted. I was confidant I had discovered the identity of the bad guy (although it was pretty late in the book), but the book still managed to surprise me. (If you have read the book, please make sure not to reveal the ending in the comments!)

I will admit that there seemed to be an awful lot of people stupidly riding off by themselves down dark roads and into dense groups of trees, but it wouldn't be very suspenseful if everyone did the safe thing. That's why you can spend half of a suspense movie yelling, "Don't go in there!" You could yell it through the second half of the movie as well except that you'd have been kicked out of the theater for yelling in the first half.

But I digress. Chameleon tucks romance and spiritual truths around the structure of a compelling life or death race to find a menacing killer. It is the second book in the Ravensmoore Chronicles, but you can easily read Chameleon without having read the first book. Although you may find yourself hunting Secrets of the Heart down later.

Prefer physical books? Chameleon is available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, and many of your local book retailers.

Special thanks to Charisma House for my copy of the book.

Pulling Out A Classic ~ A Peek At My Bookshelf

The best laid plans... I hoped to share with you a brand new book this month. However, I neglected to get the interview questions to the author in time, so... that post has been slightly delayed. Looks like you'll get two book highlights this month. Consider it your lucky summer.

Instead, I take you back to my bookshelf to pull out the only classic residing on my re-read shelf. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

First, A Confession

Don't like this cover? This webpage picked the top ten Pride and Prejudice book covers.

I am not Jane Austen's biggest fan. I can't tell you the ins and outs of all her different characters. In fact, aside from Pride and Prejudice I can't keep straight which characters go in which book. Except for Emma. I'm pretty sure she belongs to the book Emma. Just a hunch.

The story in Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites, though. The growth and interaction with the characters is a timeless look at the human condition. As evidenced by many movie renditions and written variations, the story is easily adaptable to just about anywhere.

The Book

Pride and Prejudice was Jane's second published full length novel. Letters to her sister indicate that she thought the book was a bit too light and breezy, but she liked it well enough. That lightness may very well be what has allowed this book to transcend time and remain a favorite of so many people. Had she included a treatise to Sir Walter Scott in the middle, it might not be as appealing.

Original Title Page

The book follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet, the second daughter of a country gentleman, as she traverses the ins and outs of society and family in rural England. As the name implies, the main characters develop incorrect ideas about each other at the beginning of the book and then are unwilling to bend enough to let them go. Mr. Darcy of romantic fame is the eventual love interest of the witty Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He is very well off and his nose is tilted high enough to prove it. Life continues to throw them into each others' path until they finally learn about each other and about themselves.

There is a great deal of wit and sly humor that may fly over a modern reader's head, but there is still plenty to enjoy about the book. Elizabeth endures ridiculous and silly relations, snobbish machinations of those "higher" in society, the misleading charms of a rogue, and countless other relatable encounters.



The Legacy

While all of Austen's novels have been adapted into movie and television versions, none has had so much screen time as Pride and Prejudice. Movie versions set in different time periods and cultures abound. My personal favorite is the 1995 mini-series adaptation with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. There is even a book and a movie that portray the classic story with a Zombie twist. I shudder to think what that entails. I must admit I have no intention of reading or seeing it.

Spin offs of the story are even more plentiful. Multiple authors have put their spin on what they think happened after Austen wrote "The End". Several years ago a mini-series called Lost in Austen plugged into every Jane Austen fan's dream and put a modern day woman into Elizabeth's shoes. While I found the show to be okay for the most part, the end was worth watching the whole thing.

There's even a children's board book version.

If you plan on watching the mini-series, don't view this clip which is near the end of the show. Darcy has just declared his love for Amanda (the modern day woman). She has an interesting response. If, after watching the clip, you aren't doubled over laughing you either A) haven't seen the 1995 P&P with Colin Firth, or B) have forgotten this scene.

The Take-away

Jane Austen

In my opinion, if you're new to Austen's works and want a place to start, Pride and Prejudice is a good place. The characters are unique, the writing is funny, and the story is a well-loved classic.

And, if you haven't watched the 1995 movie version, find yourself a rainy afternoon and enjoy. And it will take you all afternoon. It's about five hours long.

The book, Pride and Prejudice can be found at nearly any book retailer. Used copies are pretty prevalent as well.

The Lost In Austen mini-series is available for instant view from Netflix and Amazon Instant Video Download. Some people love it, some people hate it, I thought it was okay.

Movie versions are available in a plethora of places. From Netflix the 1980 mini-series is available for instant viewing. (I don't have DVD subscription so I don't know what's available there.) Amazon Instant Video Download has the 1980 mini-series, the 2005 Keira Knightley version, the 1940 Laurence Olivier rendition, and my personal favorite, the 1995 mini-series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.

The Screwtape Letters ~ A Peek Into My Bookshelf

Well, we missed it in April, but May is here and it's to travel again to the wonderful place that is my re-read bookshelf. This is where I store my absolute favorite books ever. The ones that I pick up every now and then to read again because they are just that good.

Normally, I pull out a romance book because, well, that's what I usually read. Today, however, I have a special treat for you. The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis.

No, C. S. Lewis won't be stopping by the blog today. That would be a bit difficult seeing as he's dead and all. His books, however, are far from dead. I haven't picked up anything he's ever written that I didn't enjoy and learn from. Narnia, Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain. All of them fabulous books.

None have made me think and rethink as much as The Screwtape Letters.

It takes a while to immerse yourself in the story because you have to flip your terminology completely around. The book is written from the perspective of a high-powered demon. Therefore "The Enemy" is God. Takes a bit to get used to it. This adjusted terminology is part of what makes this book so amazing and powerful. Because things are phrased differently than you've ever heard them before, you see them in ways you never thought to before.

Our copy is looking a little worse for wear. My husband and I have both read it multiple times. It's one of the few books we have with notes written in it. We've done Bible studies based off of it as well.

If you have ever wanted the way you think about Christianity challenged, this is a great book to accomplish that. Foibles, patterns, and shortcuts that we all accept and even take for granted are brought to light in a way that makes you feel very vulnerable. Because the book is written as a demon looking for chinks in a particular Christian's armor, you can begin to see just how open we are to attack from the true Enemy.

Book blurb:

A masterpiece of satire, this classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C. S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise old devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation - and the triumph over it - ever written.

While C.S. Lewis is not able to be with us, several people interviewed him while he was alive. (He talked more then...)

One interview indicated that Lewis felt The Screwtape Letters  was the only book he didn't actually enjoy writing.  "They were dry and gritty going. At the time, I was thinking of objections to the Christian life, and decided to put them into the form, 'That's what the devil would say.' But making goods 'bad' and bads 'good' gets to be fatiguing."

Read the whole article as well as some other bits of C. S. Lewis' life story here. It's a pretty interesting interview.

The Screwtape Letters is readily available in most bookstores - being one of Lewis' more popular titles. It is also included in many C.S. Lewis box sets. A radio/audio recorded version is also available. I found rumors of a pending movie, but can't find anything definitive on that.


Have you read The Screwtape Letters? What did you think of it?

A Peek Into My Bookcase: The Whitney Chronicles

Judy Baer is here! Everyone say hi!

Once again I'm taking you to that fabulous shelf on my bookcase... my re-read shelf. The books that I absolutely love and I pick up again from time to time. Today I present The Whitney Chronicles by Judy Baer. This is the first book that I took to church with me and put it in the hands of one of my friends and said, "You HAVE to read this!"

The Whitney Chronicles is a comedy and it is a romance, though not your typical one. Whereas a lot of romances follow the relationship's progress all the way to total commitment/marriage, this ones follows more of that initial coming together process.

I will be honest, most of the time those books are not my favorites. I like them and all, but I really like following the progression of the relationship more.

Whitney herself is what saves this book. There is so much going on in her life beyond figuring out this whole guy thing that you just can't help but take the ride with her. She's a fabulous, fabulous character. Despite the comedic leanings of the book, it deals with some very serious issues that I think Judy handled very well.

Here's the official blurb for the book:

spinster: noun
1 : an unmarried woman or a women for whom marriage seems dubious
2 : a women who spins or weaves for a living


Her mother, sister, and friends (?) fear spinsterhood may be the fate of thirty-year-old Whitney Blake. And while she doesn't believe she'll actually  end up weaving her own tablecloths, Whitney does wonder whether Mr. Right will ever arrive, despite her mom's adoption of matchmaking as the prime project of her "postmenopausal zest."


Maybe Whitney needs to be more proactive. And so she starts a journal, stating her goals:
"This month - lose two pounds (sensibly), stand up straight with my stomach sucked in so I appear tall and thin, don't let my mother drive me crazy (a particularly difficult project). GET ORGANIZED. Start by cleaning closets. Have friends over for dinner. Pray more, obsess less." 


It must be working - suddenly there's more than one man in Whitney's life. But are any of them marriage material, or is "fabulous, single, Christian man" an oxymoron? 

And, as I mentioned, Judy Baer has actually stopped by to talk about this book. I had no idea until I started researching this article how many books Judy had written. She's written more than seventy books! I have only read eight of them, so now I'm on a hunt to find more. 


Without further ado, a short talk with Judy Baer: 


Q: Because of styling and timing this book has often been compared to Bridget Jones' Diary. Did that book/movie influence you at all? How do you feel having the two compared?


A: Though this book is often compared to Bridget Jones’ Diary, it was actually written beforeI’d even heard of the book or the movie.  I’d given the manuscript to my agent two years earlier and she said that although she liked the book, there was no market for it—yet.  By the time she called to say she’d sold the book to Steeple Hill Café, I’d almost forgotten about it!  I’m so glad it was published because Whitney is one of the characters who is closest to my own sensibilities and sense of humor. 

Q: Authors frequently talk about stories running away with them and characters doing the unexpected. I don't want to give away the story to anyone who hasn't read it yet, but was there ever a point when you were writing the book that you thought Whitney would end up with one of the other guys showing an interest in her?

A: I really did love the first guy in the story that Whitney had friendship with but I always write with the end of the book in mind, so a true romance with him was an impossibility.

Q: You've written more than 75 books. That's amazing! What was it like the first time you held a book with your name on the cover? What is one thing you know now that you would like to have known then?

A:  The first time I held a book in my hand was almost as exciting as when the editor called and told me she was purchasing the book.  Love’s Perfect Image was the first I sold and I remember bouncing off the sofa in the family room.  It was bliss!

Q: Of those 75+ books, do you have a favorite? Were there any that were just a complete bear to write that you were just glad when you were finished?

A:  Books I enjoyed writing?  The Whitney Chronicles, for sure.  Be My Neatheart and The Million Dollar Dilemma for Love Inspired were great fun.  Most recently, my favorites are Unexpected Blessings and Surprising Grace which will be released in April, 2012.  When they are fun to write, they become my favorites and I think the joy shows up in the writing.

Thank you, Judy, for stopping by today! 

You can learn more about Judy and her books at her website. 

The Whitney Chronicles can be purchased in ebook format from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The paperback seems to only be available in used format, but there were several listed on Amazon and eBay. You can probably find them at other online used book retailers as well. 

A Peek Into My Bookcase: The Princess

Once again I am trolling along my bookshelves to talk about one of my favorite, older books.

This month I'd like to highlight The Princess by Lori Wick. Unfortunately I couldn't find contact information for Mrs. Wick so there is no author interview this month. That doesn't make the book any less fabulous!



As a reader of a lot of historical fiction, a plot surrounding an arranged marriage is not all that unusual. This is not an historical novel. It was originally published in 1999, so it's not exactly "present day" but it is a contemporary. As are many books involving small monarchies, the location is a fictional country, but it's very easy to picture.

I was introduced to Lori Wick's books by a friend in college. (She reads this blog so I will now pause to wave wildly at her!) I had to read it very carefully the first time I read it because this particular friend keeps all of her books in mint condition. Seriously, she doesn't break the bindings which is an amazing feat on some of her books. But I digress.

What makes this book one I pick up every few years and read again? I think it's because the couple had to make it work. In many romance novels there is always the option to walk away. The couple can break up. Even though you know they are going to end up together at the end of the book, there is that element of suspense because they can walk away from each other at any time.

Since the wedding in The Princess happens in chapter three, they're pretty much stuck with each other. This puts a completely different spin on the relationship the couple forms. There are so many dynamics that a modern couple would not normally have to deal with when falling in love - like sharing a kitchen but not a bedroom and having their relationship held up in front of an entire country because they are part of the monarchy.

One of the interesting things you see in this book that you don't see in many Christian romances is the consideration of the physical side of the relationship. (In a completely clean way, of course. I'm mostly talking about the emotional side of it.) Because they are married, it's okay for them to find each other physically attractive and to even decide to act upon that attraction. It plays a rather crucial part in the development of their relationship.

The journey is believable and enjoyable. It has moments of humor but you won't be laughing out loud at this book.

Official book description: 

In the Land of Pendaran, Shelby Parker lives a humble but good life. Her special qualities are eventually noticed by the king and queen of the House of Markham, who seek a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.

To uphold the tradition of their country, Shelby and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect gentleman in public, he remains distant at home, leaving Shelby to wonder what is in his heart. Will the prince ever love her as he did his first wife? Can the faith they share overcome the barriers between them?

This book can be purchased in print and ebook format from almost any major book dealer, including amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBD (Christian Book Distributors).

Rings Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Peek Into My Bookshelves: The Guy I'm Not Dating

Trish Perry is here today! Want to know why?

There are lots of wonderful sites and blogs that tell you about wonderful new releases and books that are coming out so you can plan you're reading future. That got me thinking, though, that there are lots of great older books that readers might have missed the first time around. In my room I have a small bookcase with my favorite books that I occasionally go back and re-read. Since these books are so fabulous I'm going to share some of them with you occasionally in case you missed them the when they came out.

Which brings me to why Trish Perry has stopped by for a spot of tea today. She wrote one of my absolute favorite contemporary Christian romance books ever. It's called The Guy I'm Not Dating and if the title itself doesn't intrigue you, the first line, "Yowza!" probably will.

This book was a sort of homecoming for me. I will make a confession. For a while I got a bit turned off by the available Christian romance. I know now that I kept picking up the wrong ones, but it seemed all I ever found was serious and involved at least one of the main characters getting saved. Don't get me wrong, that's great, but I was craving a funny story about people already walking with the Lord.

Enter The Guy I'm Not Dating which is just that. It's funny. It's laugh out loud funny. Even after multiple reads I still giggle. The characters are real and relatable. They have hearts to follow God, but they are still flawed. The Gospel is still shared because there is a conversion scene, but I'll leave you guessing as to which secondary character it is. You just might be surprised.

Here's the book description:

Kara Richardson has finally suffered one breakup too many. She's decided to go the no-dating route to romance, although she's not quite sure how that works.

She couldn't have picked a worse time to meet Gabe Paolino. Gorgeous men hardly faze Kara. A personal trainer, she works with hunks every day. But Gabe, the handsome young deli owner in town, proves way too available and way too challenging for Kara's vow of friendship. How will she adhere to her new lifestyle without scaring Gabe away?

Enter matchmaking friends, a strange elderly aunt, three demanding teens, and one hard-to-take vixen with eyes for Gabe. Add an overcrowded road trip and plenty of God's blessings, and Kara may discover that the guy she's not dating is the best boyfriend she's ever had.

And here's Trish Perry!

Q: As your first published book, I'm sure The Guy I'm Not Dating holds a special place in your heart. How do you feel when you look back on it? 

TP: Yes, although The Guy I'm Not Dating was the third book I wrote, it was the first one I published, so it will always be special for me. You know, I haven't read that book since I wrote it, back in 2005, but that's something I'd really like to do. I think it would feel like reading a book written by someone else. The distance of time sometimes allows for that, and I'd get a chance to see its strengths and flaws.

Q: I know you have carried some of the characters into other books already, but do you have plans to write stories for any of the other characters? I've always wondered what happens to Gabe's siblings. 

TP: That's how it is for the authors, too, as I'm sure you'll see, Kristi, with your own characters. Even though the characters come out of our own imaginations, after we move on, we feel as if their lives continue. But the decision about how long to carry a series ultimately rests with the publisher. Even though Harvest House and I decided to include Kara, Gabe, and their friends in Too Good to Be True and Beach Dreams, we didn't plan to look further into the lives of the secondary characters, like Gabe's siblings. Maybe someday  . . .

Q: All writers know the journey to that first printed book can be a long one. Do you remember how you felt the first time you held this book in your hands? What is one thing you know now that you would love to have known then? 

TP: I definitely remember how I felt when I received my first author copy of The Guy I'm Not Dating, and I've talked about it often, because it was kind of revelatory. 

Although I was pleased and should have been flooded with joy, I looked at the book and suddenly worried it wasn't good enough. My family could now read it and see I wasn't as talented as they thought I was. My friends would do the same. Strangers would read the book and post horrible comments about me online. Even my publisher would suddenly realize it was contracted with this total hack for another book. Maybe all of those things would happen because God needed to show me that writing wasn't really what He had in mind for me. I had a mini-panic attack, I guess. 

So I prayed about it, and rather quickly God put my mind at rest. I didn't hear His voice, but I felt it so strongly, I know it was Him. I knew that Heknew my heart. I wanted to serve and honor Him with my writing. Why would He throw that back in my face? Did I really think that was how He operated? If He wanted me serving Him in some other way, He would guide me in that direction, not stomp on my efforts at writing. As long as I dedicated my writing to Him each day and continued to feel drawn to it, I didn't need to worry about my writing journey. He would bless my efforts or lovingly draw me to something else. That's how He operates.

And that comforting awareness is the one thing I know now that I would love to have know right from the start.

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

You can buy The Guy I'm Not Dating at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com, and SignedByTheAuthor.com.