Official Site of Preslaysa Edwards - Preslaysa Williams
Author. Actress. Blasian Gal.
Here are the winners of a giveaway, I offered at last month’s ACFW Virginia conference!
The winner of the $5 Amazon gift card is: Debb Hackett
The winner of the $5 Starbucks gift card is: Crystal Sandow
To claim your prize: email me at write(at)preslaysa(dot)com and I will send your gift.
Congratulations!
(Stay tuned for my next giveaway in September)
I write romance because I believe much of the joy in our lives comes from relationships. When we’re young, our relationships with our parents and siblings affect us a great deal. Our adult lives are shaped by our own choices: careers, neighborhoods, churches… and if and whom we marry.
As Christian women, we seek out men who have a solid connection with God, knowing this will give the best foundation for a marriage and family life that can last a lifetime. Sure, that’s idealistic. We don’t always make wise choices, and sometimes things go afoul anyway.
But the most foundational relationship we have is with God, and its strength can make a difference in every area of our lives. I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as my Savior at a young age. I attended a Christian boarding school and three semesters of Bible college before marrying a Christian man. Imagine my surprise to find out life wasn’t all sunshine and roses!
Thirty-five years later we’re still together and (thankfully) stronger than ever, but I’m not sure it would have happened if we weren’t both committed to Jesus as well as each other. Something I’ve had to learn is how God passionately loves me as an individual. Yes, I was taught that as a child and even believed it, but somehow, in various areas of life, I’ve felt like an outsider looking in. My salvation wasn’t in doubt; I knew Jesus loved the whole world and gave His life for us. It was the personal aspect that didn’t feel real. Zephaniah 3:17, particularly from The Voice and from New Living Translation, has really spoken deeply into my soul.
I find lessons in life are on a spiral, seemingly going in circles yet with a new dimension the next time you face the same thing. So I have grappled with this personal love of God to me at various times in my life. One such time was when I was writing Plum Upside Down.
I don’t do much advance plotting before starting to write. I distinctly remember when I realized that my main character, Chelsea, had a lot in common with my younger self. How could I help her find that deep joy in her relationship with Jesus so that her romance would have a solid footing?
I’m so thankful for the depth of the lessons I’ve learned in the past few months while writing and editing this novel — even though I’m sure I’ll face them again! If you’ve ever struggled in this area of your life, I hope you’ll read Plum Upside Down then email me if you can empathize with Chelsea’s journey.
Plum Upside Down is the fifth book in my Farm Fresh Romance series. It can be read as a standalone, but you might want to start at the beginning of the series. Raspberries and Vinegar, the first book, is a free e-book on Kindle, Nook, iBooks, and Kobo.
About Valerie Comer
Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
About Plum Upside Down
It is perfectly okay to write garbage–as long as you edit brilliantly
—C. J. Cherryh
For most writers editing is the part we hate. When we first begin writing, we believe each word is golden and we don’t want to give a single one up. But in order to move forward, we have to see that we often do write garbage. Our sentences are full of weasel words, repetition, missing words, dangling modifiers and all kinds of grammar problems that keep our work from shining.
If you haven’t done so before, when you finish a manuscript hide it under the bed. Walk away from it for a week, a month, or as long as you can spare. Then pull it out and look for these things. You’ll be surprised at how much better you can make your work when you look at it critically.
Here are a few tips I use when editing.
Words that are words but don’t fit in your sentence. I once wrote an article for the newspaper and inserted one of these beauties (not that I haven’t done it more than once in other writings as well). The sentence was supposed to read “He rides around the store on a silver motor-powered scooter.” Instead, I wrote “He rides around the store on a sliver motor-powered scooter.” Same letters in different order with a big difference in meaning. Thankfully, I caught it before it went to press!
Do you have “garbage” writing you must edit out? I’d love to hear about it.
About the Author:
Award winning author Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband, singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place to be is in her garden. She’s passionate about gardening and even won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club.
Her debut inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing is a 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner, a 2014 RONE winner, a 2014 EPIC finalist, a 2014 RONE finalist and a Carolyn Readers Choice Award finalist and an ACFW Genesis Finalist.
You can connect with her at her blog, on FB, Goodreads or Twitter.
Catherine also guest posts at: Stitches Thru Time and SMP Authors blog
Her award-winning book The Nun and the Narc is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble
About The Nun and the Narc
Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.
Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.
You can purchase The Nun and the Narc on Amazon or Barnes and Noble
On Saturday, July 25, in Woodbridge, Virginia (Northern Virginia, Metro DC), the Virginia Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) will be holding their first annual Christian Writer’s Conference! I’ll be giving a talk on “Juggling Books and Babies.”
In addition to 14 workshops, they are offering personal appointments with a Literary Agent, and also appointments with a Photographer so you can get a professional head shot for your publicity efforts.
Registration includes a light breakfast, a taco salad bar lunch, beverages, all the workshops, plus access to our special guests and extras tables.
If you’re in the Virginia area, I’d love to meet you in person so register today! Click here for more info
Life and love keep going awry for Summer Snow, until her grandmother sends her on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree—a kind and quirky young man from Summer’s past. With Laney the Chihuahua along for the ride, a childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?
My mother read me fairytales when I was a kid, and I believe these stories had a profound effect on me. I have been told my stories read like modern-day fairytales, and I am hoping that Summer’s List will have that same fun feel to it.
In the morning, I answer my emails. Then I allow myself a bit of time for social media. After that I check to see how my ranking is on Amazon and if there are more reviews. I probably will not read those, although I might. Then when all of that is accomplished I start on my work for the day.
I have been writing for thirty years, and I have forty books published. To be honest, it’s been a rough journey. I have known a great deal of failure before I ever knew any success. But then that is a common tale among writers. As far as where my journey will go, only God knows the answer to that question.
Sure. I suppose one of them is that occasionally we’ve forgotten how to be polite and kind when it comes to social media posts and emails. I think it would be lovely to go back in time to a simpler, gentler era when people had a deeper sense of the preciousness of humanity. Harsh words spoken in haste can really hurt—sometimes for a lifetime. I say this from having experience on both sides of this issue, so I’m not holding myself up as perfect. I’m far from perfect. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to care about each other in the same way Christ loves us?
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
All of it. I’m not kidding. Sometimes I still can’t believe I write books. Yes, it’s about fun creative stuff, but it’s also about keeping my bum in the chair and writing even when I’m not inspired. It’s about getting the job done. No. Matter. What. And sometimes that’s not easy to do.
Everywhere. While I’m running errands. While I’m at church. While I’m talking to friends and family. With each story, colorful bits of life end up in my final piece of art—a little like the way a mosaic comes together, making a lovely picture.
Recently I read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. It’s a masterwork—a true story about slavery in America—and a book that everyone should read.
One of my characters is taken from real life—a sweet Chihuahua named Laney. This little dog was considered a love-gift from God since she helped my daughter-in-law get through a painful passage in her life. It was a true joy for me to add this beloved dog, Laney, to my story.
Here are two of my media links. I’d love to hear from you!
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaHigman
Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has forty books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, traveling to exotic places, and brunch with her friends.
Please check out Anita’s latest novel, Summer’s List, through Moody Publishers. Feel free to drop by her website at www.anitahigman.com or connect with her on her Facebook Reader Page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaHigman. She would love to hear from you!
Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? After all, who wants romance and tension at the same time? You do. I do. And readers do, too.
Romance draws your male and female protagonists together with promises of a happy ending inherent. Tension is what keeps them apart throughout the story, raises questions about whether they should be together, causes them to assess their goals and priorities, offers an opportunity for the antagonist to have a say in the matter, and keeps the story moving forward.
Face it, if boy meets girl, boy gets girl in the first chapter, the romance is pretty much tied in a knot for the rest of the story.
So how do we create the tension in a romance without having the characters constantly fighting, breaking up, and making up? One or two rounds of that in a story is more than enough.
Each character needs to have a backstory. Not about where he went to college or what kind of car she drives. This romantic backstory should include past relationships, the lie the character believes about themselves, their dreams or goals regarding their romantic future, and the obstacles that keeps them from achieving their romantic goal.
For example, Bob had a girlfriend in college who dumped him for a rich frat guy. The lie he believes is that no girl could possibly love him for himself; he needs to make lots of money and be successful. The problem is that the more he works and the more stuff he acquires, the less time he has for a girlfriend.
Sue longs to have the marriage her parents had. They fell in love in sixth grade and were together ever since. But, the guy she fell in love with in high school ended up getting her pregnant and then leaving her before the baby was born. The lie she believes is that there are no happily-ever-afters, and no man is going to want her. She’s damaged goods. So she holds all men at arm’s length.
In your story, you could have Bob meet Sue at work. He’s attracted to her but manages to work through every date he makes with her, which confirms her belief that no man should be depended on. Sue doesn’t tell Bob about her daughter, so she has to work hard to keep that secret, and when Bob finds out, he believes she’s just like every other woman—out to take what she can get. After all, she probably tried to trick some poor guy into marrying her by getting pregnant.
Bob’s beliefs and Sue’s are at odds with each other. If they both stick to their guns, they won’t get together.
Work them through their problems, get them to change their belief system, and get them together by the end of the book, or at least to a point where the reader understands there’s a very good chance they will get together.
About Donna:
Donna writes historical suspense from Denver Colorado. Sometimes she writes contemporary suspense using her pen name, Leeann Betts. You can subscribe to their blogs at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com. She and Leeann are active on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Check out their websites at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com and www.LeeannBetts.com .
My dream since age 9 was to write books that are made into movies.
Since then, I worked hard to make the dream come true by taking every good opportunity to be properly trained and grow as a writer.
A few years ago, God allowed the dream of my heart to come true on one level. Crossbooks (the former imprint of B&H Publishing Group) published my first book, an inspirational romance novella called Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories. Another dream came true when Barnes & Noble hosted me for a book signing!
As I wait for my biggest dream for my writing career to come true (my books becoming movies), I am developing my skills as a writer by reading books in my genre (inspirational romance), brushing up on my skill set and practicing techniques that I’m learning from notable books about writing.
Now I do not know if my first book will be made into a movie. I’d love that, but I do realize that it’s my first book and that’s rare. However, it happens! Rebecca Donovan, indie author of The Breathing Series, not only had sky-high success in the publishing of her first novel, but Hollywood picked it up and decided to make it into a movie!
My point here is dreams come true. Rebecca tried to get into publishing the traditional route—get an agent, a book deal and sign a writing contract with a traditional publisher. But when doors kept slamming, she decided to go indie and it worked out better than she could ever imagined. Just so you know, it’s not every day that people who publish their books independently (hence the term “indie”) have sky-high sales and Hollywood knocking on your door. It’s not normal.
Oh but isn’t it wonderful that when God is moving behind-the-scenes in your life, He can take ordinary circumstances and create something extraordinary!
Much like my fictional character Elle from the story “Peace and Love” (the last story in my first book), I am waiting on another dream of my heart to come true.
When my readers meet Elle, she’s on the hunt for a full-time job with benefits that will allow her to be creative as an artist and earn sustainable income. So she drives down from Michigan to the Washington, D.C. area because she landed interviews in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. Elle’s job hunt is filled with ups and downs and she is tempted to give up hope. I won’t give away the ending, but I will tell you that Elle’s faith in God and continued trust in His plan for her life plays a deciding role in whether or not her dreams come true.
Trusting in God no matter what happens is a life skill that will bring you much joy and peace. So as I wait for my dreams to come true, I’m learning to be content in where I am in life, continuing to seek God daily and trusting Him to provide.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has good plans for my life and I believe it. The best part is God has good plans for you too! God’s promises found in The Bible are true and apply to all who believe in Him. So today, I encourage you to choose to trust God’s perfect timing in making your dreams come true.
Hope in My Heart is a collection of short, heartwarming stories with characters in need of hope.
In “Love Unexpected,” a car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly.
Christmastime is the setting for the middle story, “The Best Gift.” Christina desires to lose ten pounds so she can fit into her dress for her sister’s wedding. Jordan wishes her mom would stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually learns that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God.
In “Peace and Love,” three characters living in a metropolitan area are desperately searching. Elle, a starving artist, aspires to become a paid professional. Eric, a divorce attorney, wants to resolve his issues concerning his parents’ divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All characters pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.
You can purchase it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Christianbook or Lifeway
Alexis A. Goring is a writer at heart and a journalist by profession. She loves the art of storytelling and is especially delighted to have released her first book, an inspirational romance novella called Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories, in Sept. 2013. When Alexis is not working on her next book or chasing down the next big story for the newspaper where she works as a freelance reporter, she can be found listening to songs by her most admired musicians, enjoying the food in cafes/restaurants, shopping at her favorite malls and spending quality time with loved ones (family and friends). Visit her online at her website, Facebook or Twitter
