Memorial Day contest from Cathy West

Cathy West, author of Yesterday's Tomorrow, a wonderful debut novel from OakTara set during the Vietnam War, is sponsoring a contest of sorts - she wants to hear your stories about the war era. A reader poll will choose the most touching and the winner will receive an autographed copy of her book. Please visit her web site for more information.

The skinny from Cathy:

I would love to hear your stories - do you have a soldier in your family? Are you a Veteran or do you know one? Have you been affected by war in any way? If you can't say yes to those questions, write a short story that honors veterans. Fiction or poetry, whatever you like.

Send me your stories (do try to keep them short, we're not after the Pulitzer) and photographs too! I will publish them all on my blog and we'll vote for the winner. So if you want your story to win, you'll need to send people here to vote!!

The winner will receive an autographed copy of Yesterday's Tomorrow, and something special from Bermuda!

Can't wait to hear from you!

Completely Whole by Paulette Harper

About the Author

A sought after speaker, certified life coach, minister and author. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Paulette’s desire is to motive women to reach their God given potential through conferences, workshops and seminars. As a writing coach, Paulette is the visionary behind “Write Now” (releasing the word in you) literary workshops designed to coach aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development and publication of Christian books. Paulette has authored such books as That Was Then, This Is Now , This Broken Vessel Restored. She is the co-author of Victorious Living for Women and just released Victorious Living for Moms.

Special Today Only! May 9. Buy a copy of Completely Whole by Paulette Harper and get immediate access to amazing Free Bonus Gifts and contest giveaways.

 Visit the link below for more details...

http://bit.ly/CompletelyWholeBookLaunch

About the Book

In her well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives. Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment. 

Oftentimes, many people try to seek fulfillment from money, relationships, accomplishments, or material things. Others choose to cope with difficult problems by using drugs or alcohol, but they often come up short and soon have to realize that such things do not bring true happiness and fulfillment in life. How then can we successfully solve the problems that we face and find true happiness and peace in our lives? Well, author, Paulette Harper, in her latest book, Completely Whole, shows readers how to overcome suffering caused by alcoholism, substance abuse, poverty, and other obstacles blocking the path to a life of wholeness in spirit, soul, and body. 
In her well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives. Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment. 

Special Today Only! May 9. Buy a copy of Completely Whole by Paulette Harper and get immediate access to amazing Free Bonus Gifts and contest giveaways.

 Visit the link below for more details...

http://bit.ly/CompletelyWholeBookLaunch

Video Book Review


Podcasts

PODCAST 1 - About the Book

OR
Click here to listen...

PODCAST 2 - For Readers

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Click here to listen...

PODCAST 3 - Excerpt

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Click here to listen...

What others are saying…..
Author Harper is to be commended for the useful compilation of thoughtful chapters, application of scripture and use of her personal experiences to assist the reader(s) in their quest for spiritual wholeness. Whether you are at a crossroad of your life or seeking to strengthen your walk with Christ, you will find valuable inspiration, encouragement and most of all, assurance that by choice you can become COMPLETELY WHOLE.
Dr. Linda Beed, Author

“COMPLETELY WHOLE” is a guide one can refer to over and over again during times of need. Ms. Harper’s grasp of real life and her method of dealing with these situations truly make this guide a learning tool that can be used over and over again.
Tamarra Bryant, Literary Wonders Reviews

My To-Do List

Ever wonder about a full time stay-at-home writer's to-do list?
Here's mine for today - which will obviously stretch over:

Drop off car for body work from hail damage - 5:45 am
Check out the church flyer I made yesterday and put a PR together and send it to committee members.
Read and crit April's revised chapter.
Send out PR on the FHS Memorial Day program
Do my article and pre-post for COTT - peruse the site; folow up on more feedback for back cover copy
Plan lunch with Cherie
Do the TOTW stuff for Syndie
Do my flag day article and recipe for BarnDoor now that I have the pictures
Character tour for Ralene
Post Linda Rohrbough's stuff and send her links
PenTalk - follow up on contact with Carol
Post up Julie Carboni stuff for May 14
Paula's lunch stuff May 9 - post up
follow up with Charity about June 6 or 7 interview
follow up with Kerry at BL
Work on Random Lake Library workshop series
Figure out a groovy gift for my goddaughter's June 4 graduation
Work on Creative Wisconsin magazine which goes to the print May 15 and I'm only about 1/5 into set-up; follow up on ads and member books for the bookshelf; finish getting ready for the conference this weekend at which I not presenting, thank you
Post Judy Bridges book stuff
Spend time with the WORD
treadmill and do my gut and butt clenches and throat stretches
I should wash my hair today, which is a job unto itself
Stare at the honking TBR pile of books and look longinly at my Kindle
Check out PYPliaison site once
Keep tabs on the ACFW Course loop responses and respond when necessary
Keep up with the infestation of lady beetles and box elder bugs
Look at the blue sky, remind myself it's still really cold out so I don't feel guilty about not going out to whack more weeds and violets
Thank my precious Lord for friends like Patty who will watch the Barn Door site for me, and others who encourage and pray for and with me
Make dinner and clean up
Listen to the Brewers game :) Ah....

Cleaning out the freezer - Rhubarb pie that turned out!

I'm not terribly excellent at following recipes, thus I'm not a great pie-maker. They usually turn out runny or rather solid, but this one worked!

Rhubarb Pie

makes one shallow 8" dish pie

Crust: package of graham crackers, crushed fine, 1/4 c. softened margarine. Combine these and press into bottom of pie plate.

2 c. chopped rhubard (mine was still slightly frozen)
3/4 - 1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/3 c. flour
nutmeg - 1/2 tsp or taste - can also add cinnamon

Combine above ingredients and turn into pie plate. Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven until firm, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool and serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

New iPhone App Helps Writers

Learn to Pitch Their Books

Overview: Just as it takes an entirely different set of skills for an artist to talk about their paintings as it does to paint the paintings, it’s an entirely different set of skills to talk effectively about a book, as to write one. This workshop, which writers can do on their phone, teaches a three-step formula for pitching that works for any book by award-winning author and speaker Linda Rohrbough.

Allentown, PA – Saturday, April 26, 2011 – Everyone thinks writers are born with a talent to talk to others about their work. But for most, writing a book is like sorting paper in a wind tunnel. To boil the experience down to a few comprehendible sentences is nearly overwhelming. Award-winning author Linda Rohrbough has help with a methodology to help writers do this task with fiction or non-fiction that is a plug-and-chug formula anyone can use. She’s been teaching her “Pitch Your Book” workshop to writer’s groups all over the country and now it’s available in a step-by-step, interactive manner on the iPhone.

Rohrbough says, “Pitching is a lifelong skill for a writer. There will never be a time when a writer doesn’t have to talk to someone they don’t know about one of their books. At first, it’s agents and editors, but later it’s readers, bookstore owners, and maybe even the media. But what new writers don’t know is the pros figure how to do this before they start a book.”

“Part of the rub is writers are afraid when it comes to talking about their work. Their hearts start beating fast, their palms get sweaty, and they forget their own names. I’ve done this. So one of the things I have to do is teach writers how to manage their own fears. If I don’t, I find myself with a group of people who cannot hear what I have to say, much less implement the simple formula I’ve come up with.”

Part of the beauty of doing her workshop as an App is Rohrbough can also appeal to people with different learning styles, just as she does in person. “I have yet to hear someone say, ‘I don’t remember’ or ‘I didn’t understand’ after they completed one of my workshops. Everything I do is designed to imprint in their minds, no matter how they learn, my simple and useful techniques. No wasted motion. And I’m doing the same in my App,” she said.

The basic portion of the App is about an hour in length divided into ten short sections, that can be done a little at a time or all at once. There are also flash cards and multiple choice questions to reinforce key concepts.

“Writers see many examples of how this is done, learn how to plug their own work into the formula, and then use my steps to talk about their own book in an effective and attention-getting way,” Rohrbough added.

“Pitch Your Book” became available from Study By App in the Apple iTunes store April 23^th for $3.99.

Rohrbough available for interviews. Contact Robin Nolan at McDavid Public Relations robin@mcdavidpr.com or call 919-745-9333.

The Prophetess One

I'm pleased to announce an exciting new novel from a fantastic writing coach, Linda Rohrbough!

The Prophetess One: At Risk

by Linda Rohrbough

www.LindaRohrbough.com

"This is fast-paced, thrilling, edge-of-the-seat reading. The Prophetess One: At Risk had me flipping the pages and holding my breath."  - Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestseller

It’s a very different kind of war.

Why would God choose a pregnant computer programmer to fight it?

All Anna McClintock wants is a peaceful stretch of beach she can walk to with her new husband, Jack, and her soon-to-be-born child. Jack is finishing his engineering degree this semester and the two plan to leave his Kansas home to build their new lives together.

But when Anna finds herself in jail for the murder of a preschool child she tried to save, she realizes she is alone, except for God. She has to rely on new-found spiritual gifts as well as her wits and skills in order to save herself, her unborn son, and her marriage.

And she has another decision to make. This one affects the entire nation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Real events form the background for The Prophetess One: At Risk

Award-winning author Linda Rohrbough put her journalist skills to work when she saw strange events after her husband’s nephew, Daniel Rohrbough, was a casualty in the Columbine shooting. For example, as family at the Columbine memorial service, she noted General Colin Powell was on the platform in full military dress between musicians Amy Grant and Phil Driscoll. But he was never mentioned or introduced, and he never spoke.

She discovered the shooters bragged theirs would be the first of many such events and they low-level formatted the hard disk drives of their computers so no record of their Internet activity could be uncovered. And the officials investigating Columbine looked unsuccessfully for months for third-party involvement in the year-long planning of the shooting.

As she investigated other shootings, she uncovered much more information that led her to believe this sort of thing could be prevented on a grass roots level. The theme of the book is men are important in the lives of children.

Analyzing the Classics with Lorilyn Roberts

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Review

by Lorilyn Roberts

          What makes Pride and Prejudice work? Why is it a classic? Why would anyone want to read this book today, almost two hundred years after it was written – in almost archaic English? I was glad I read it on my Kindle so I could use the dictionary function to enlighten myself on unfamiliar words.

          I was impressed with one quality about this book which I have seen in only a few other books I have read:  I felt like I “knew” the main character intimately, as well as several of the supporting cast. Ms. Austen’s ability to develop unique characters was impressive, and there were quite a few, though each one was entertainingly different.

As the plot progressed, Ms. Austen used the story to enable a gradual change and maturity in the protagonist, Elizabeth. The antagonist, Mr. Darcy, did a complete turnabout in nature, which was unexpected, leading to a surprise ending. Almost all of the characters evolved, and those who didn’t—i.e., the mother, the youngest daughter who eloped—their inability to change was part of their flawed nature. Their failures created tension and added flavor to the plot. I have seen many of the personalities in Pride and Prejudice in my own life. I could relate to the dysfunctional mother, the submissive father, the complacent Mary, the beautiful Jane, the prideful Lady Catherine, the prejudicial sisters, and the nosy neighbors that gossiped—and still care about them anyway. 

What makes a great book? A key ingredient is creating characters we will remember long after the book is finished—people we love and villains we hate. Perhaps it’s a protagonist who stands for something beyond the pages of the book; or noble characters who demand an audience, representing archetypes within ourselves and others. Perhaps we meet someone in a story we wish to emulate. We become that hero or heroine, or worse yet, even the bad guy we despise. We fall in love and out of love, but we are never the same having met the unique characters within the pages of a great classic.

Books I would compare Pride and Prejudice to that have characters like that are The Exodus, Gone With the Wind, and Great Expectations. I remember those books like I read them yesterday, and two of them I read over thirty-five years ago

I saw much of myself in Elizabeth—outspoken, determined, moral, and loyal. In the end, she and the protagonist married, and each overcame significant flaws to make that possible. I couldn’t be sure until the end that it would happen. There was nothing wasted; every scene followed a natural progression, leading to the next event.

I will think about this book for a while, picking apart different aspects of the characters and story as I work out how to write my own fiction. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to study the art of character in a fictional book.

Find Lorilyn:

Children of Dreams

The Donkey and the King

http://lorilynroberts.com/

http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/llwroberts

http://john316mn.blogspot.com

http://on.fb.me/fL67wf