Book Monday: Spotlight on Remnants

Hello! I'm going to give you some info on the book I am reading right now.

It is Remnants, the latest novel from amazing author Lisa T. Bergrem. (Pre-order before April 8—best prices! $11.95 hardcover, $7.99 Kindle)

Here's what it is about: 

"Our coming was foretold by the elders--- Those who would change the future, just as the planet teetered on the edge of darkness. Born on the prophesied day with birthmarks in the form of a crescent moon, they knew us immediately. Swaddled and screaming, we were spirited away by those who hid us, trained us, and kept us safe until our time came. They poured their lives into us. Some died to save us. And now we, the Remnants, protected by Knights of the Last Order, have gathered. Called until we breathe our last ... to save the world."

Read the first two chapters here.

Catch-Up Friday: Fun Things!

Hello, friends!

I'm so excited. A lot of cool things are happening.

For one, I just filled out a form for my local library to consider putting Swept to Sea in their ebooks section. I hope that goes well!

Also, I am going to spend this weekend performing my play, The Dixie Swim Club.

If you live in the Kansas City area, please attend these performances at Park University! They are Friday, the 28th, at 7:00, Saturday, the 29th, at 7:00, and Sunday, the 30th, at 2:00. Be there or be square! ;)

Also, I am making new simple photo edits like these:

Music Thursday: Beautiful City

Hi, ya'll!

(Yes I just called you 'ya'll'. That may be a side-effect from playing a Southerner in the current play I am in.)

A week or so ago, I saw a gorgeous production of the musical "Godspell" at the local Egads! Theater.

Here is "Beautiful City," one of the many amazing songs from the show.

Bible Verse Wednesday: Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

Book Monday: Review of Shadow Hand

Hello everyone!
Today, I have a special treat for you. My sister, Cortney, read and reviewed "Shadow Hand" by Anne Elisabeth Stengl for me today! I'll hand the reins over to her:

I recently finished a fantastic book by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Shadow Hand is from her Tales of
Goldstone Wood series.
Here's a little about the book:

"This is a story about blood.
And love.
And the many things that lie between.
By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves,
handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. As her
wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living
memory.
But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a
world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal parasite.
A world that is hauntingly familiar."

My Thoughts:

The Idea:

I loved the idea for this story! It has a very unique twist that sets it apart from many other fantasy

books. I don’t want to give the surprise away, but it ties together the past and present in a delightful

way!

I also really like the idea for the overall series. It is fantasy with the feel of a fairy tale and Christian

allegorical elements.

The Characters:

The two main characters, Foxbrush and Daylily have already been introduced in earlier books in the

series, but not necessarily in a positive light. I did like them in the earlier books, but I absolutely loved

them in this book!

In past books, Daylily was cold even to the point of being cruel, but she was always brave with a hidden

wild streak. This book further explored her character and her inner struggle between being the girl

everyone expects her to be and her true self.

Foxbrush always used to be a dandy, but I liked him for his love of reading and learning. In this book, he

was revealed to be much more than meets the eye.

Although the story is mainly about Foxbrush and Daylily, the book also focuses on many other

characters from other books in the series and some new characters as well. I felt like each one was

believable, and much of the humor came from some of the side characters (although Foxbrush’s

reactions to his adventures were pretty funny, too!).

The Plot:

I could not stop reading! The story was full of action and all the characters’ paths kept crossing and

interweaving perfectly to finally reach the grand conclusion.

The Setting:

The story was set mainly in the Southlands which is a part of the Goldstone Wood universe. The

storyline hopped between two key times in the history of the land.

Overall:

I absolutely loved this book! It is another great book in my favorite series. I would recommend it as a

great book to read, but I think that it would be best to read the other books in the series first. I think

that it would be possible to read and understand this book on its own, but it has many details that

connect to other books in the series, which I think make it much more enjoyable. I would say, if you

have time, read some of the other books first, and you’ll be able to love this one even more!

About the Author:

Anne Elisabeth is the award-winning author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy

adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style. She is married to the handsome man she met at

fencing class and lives with him, a gaggle of cats, and one long-suffering dog in NC.

- See more at: http://anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com/


Thanks Cortney! Didn't she write a nice review?

Catch-Up Friday: Some Changes

Hello, everyone!
I wanted to let you know that there may be a few changes around here.
There will be a new schedule on this blog:
Book Monday
Bible Verse Wednesday
Music Thursday
Catch-Up Friday

This will be relatively the same as before, but I eliminated Bible Verse Sunday and Broadway Tuesday. This is simply because I have become so easy that it is a bother to try to create so many posts, and I want to give you a more condensed number with more thought behind each post.
Here's a brief summary of what each day will look like:

Book Monday:
This will mostly consist of book reviews like it did before, but it will also feature anything about books. It could be an update on my own book, or an interview with another author, or a special feature for another author.

Bible Verse Wednesday:
This will remain the same. It will highlight a Bible verse.

Music Thursday:
This will remain the same. It will feature a song I want to share with you!

Catch-Up Friday:
This will be mostly the same as it has been in the last few months. It could be a post about writing, or it could feature what I've been up to the last week. This will basically be the day when I am free to post whatever I feel like.


What do you think about the new schedule? Do you want to propose any changes? Which day is your favorite?

Music Thursday: Love Is An Open Door

Hey everyone! I saw this a few says ago and thought it was adorable so I am sharing it with you...enjoy!

Bible Verse Wednesday: Joy and Peace

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Monday Feature: Interview with Caryl McAdoo

Hi, everyone! Be sure to read my review of "Lies" by Oliver Dahl, which I posted earlier this morning.

Now, I have an interview with my friend and fellow author, Caryl McAdoo!

Hi, Caryl! Thank you for being here. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I sure can, but first, let me thank you for having me, Heather. I’m so excited over 

the launch of VOW UNBROKEN this month and so appreciate that you wanted 

to help make it a success! I’m a Grami with fourteen grandsugars, living in the 

peaceful woods of Peter’s Prairie south of Clarksville, Texas, Red River’s County 

seat. O’Pa, my high school sweetheart husband of forty-five years, and I are rearing 

four of those sugars, all boys. We’ve had them eleven years, so they’re ours. So I 

still have plenty of sports events and parent/teacher conferences. My greatest love is 

for God and His Son, and any glory or accolades that come my way, I turn straight 

back to Him, because He’s the essence of any good in me. 

Awesome! When did you first realize that writing was for you?

I remember my favorite granddaddy, reading from a story he wrote. His character 

was a cat who was trying to win the princess’ hand. He often told us stories at nap 

time until we’d fall off to sleep. So I’d have to say he was my first inspiration and 

the one who awakened story telling in me. ‘Writing’ came as a by-product of that. 

English was always my favorite subject in school and in the seventh grade, for a 

homework assignment ‘What will you be doing in the year 2000?’ I wrote about 

hopping planets to autograph my books. I was an intergallactically famous author. 

J What can I say? I’ve always been a BIG thinker! Wasn’t until the mid eighties 

that I began writing with the idea of getting published in mind, and fifteen years 

later when the first title was published. It’s been a long journey, but God’s been 

faithful.

I love the intergalactic famous author. Hahaha! What is your book about?

VOW UNBROKEN is a historical Christian romance set in 1832 East Texas, and 

I’m so honored that Simon and Schuster’s Howard Books has published it. It’s 

about the faith and struggles of a young woman who came west with her new 

husband to start a new life.

He and his brother are killed in a logging accident leaving her a pregnant 

nineteen year old widow with an orphaned five year old nephew to raise. She blames

herself and counts his death as God’s punishment for her marrying without her

father’s consent.

She focuses her life on pleasing God after that vowing never to marry again 

without her daddy’s blessing, but that promise seems to doom her to a lonely life as

he’s back in Tennessee and none of the men who’ve come courting want to make the 

arduous trip on the chance of her father’s approval. 

VOW UNBROKEN opens ten years after all this, and she’s just harvested 

her best crop ever. Blessed to have sold her cotton to a local businessman, she waves 

goodbye to all her neighbors who’ve joined together in a wagon train to take their

harvests to market in Jefferson, about a hundred miles south.

The scoundrel buyer reneges when she goes to deliver her lint and only

offers half his original bid. Should she sell to him and barely break even, meaning 

scratching out one more year on the prairie and most likely selling off some of the

land, her children’s inheritance, or someway, somehow, get her cotton along the 

Jefferson Trace to the buyers who are paying in gold coin.

Spunky, stubborn, and infuriated that the man is trying to cheat her, she

takes the latter path and determines she can do it herself, but her best friend 

convinces her she must have help, a man to go with her, but there aren’t many 

available since most are already on the way.

Against her better judgment, she hires ne’er-do-well Henry Buckmeyer, a 

mama’s boy with a reputation of being a lazy drunk. The trace proves dangerous 

indeed, but none of those can match the trial of her heart when she falls in love with 

the heathen Henry.

Sounds great! What can we find you doing when you are not writing?

It seems like marketing would be the answer. It’s amazing what a writer is 

required to do to help make their book a success. Not that I don’t love this part of

the career because I love people, but where a manuscript eventually comes to THE 

END, marketing said manuscript never does. J My husband drags me away from 

the computer often. And a Grami/Mama of four must cook meals and do laundry. 

But for fun, I love crafting and gardening, and for my spirit, I love praise and 

worship. I’m a psalmist and cannot live without getting regularly in his manifest 

presence.

Marketing can be very time-consuming. What time of day do you feel you get your best writing done?

With my daily schedule, I write whenever I can, early in the morning before 

the boys wake up, or a little later after they all get off to school. All through the 

afternoon up until supper needs cooking, and after into the early morning hours 

when I have trouble getting to sleep. Mostly the hours I usually DON’T write are 

between 2 and 5 in the dark morning. J

You are very dedicated to the craft! Your books are Christian Historical Romance. What role does your faith play in your writing?

It has been a great joy to discover this genre and I owe that in full to Mary 

Sue McAdoo Seymour, my agent. Can you believe she grew up a McAdoo? God has 

such a sense of humor! And of course, meeting her was His divine plan for us both, 

so He ultimately gets credit for me writing historical Christian romance.

readers write of drawing closer to Him or examining their hearts anew because of 

my writing is such an awesome reward. 

never repay the debt I owe to Him, but thank Him so much for preparing a way for 

me to be in relationship with Him. That He loves me the way He does and blesses me 

and sends His favor before me never ceases to overwhelm me.

allows me to advance His Kingdom here on earth. Believing time is short and that 

His Son is coming again soon to reign in Jerusalem, I set my focus on bring the 

Good News to all who are lost and don’t know Him as I do. I don’t know how they 

even get through a day without Him. I sure couldn’t.

What do you most look forward to about being published?

As above in question six, it’s all about the platform. When I first started 

this new ‘digital marketing’ experience, I kept hearing the words platform and 

branding. Shameless, I asked many exactly what they were and researched online to 

further understand.

When Phil Robertson was removed from the wildly successful Duck 

Dynasty for his standing for God’s Word and Way, I understood it all the more. 

Our platform consists of the people we get to talk to and hopefully influence. Mr. 

Robertson has been given an awesome, huge platform, and in my humble opinion, 

used it to glorify our Maker.

You, Heather, have been God’s servant in extending my ‘platform’ through 

this interview. I pray that some of your readers will also become mine because 

they’ve read this interview and liked what I have to say. I love it how authors are 

so open and ready to help other writers to success instead of thinking there aren’t 

enough readers out there for all of us. Well, at least Christian authors! I’m so very 

blessed to have met so many wonderful sisters-in-Christ who also love to write 

stories that glorify Him. Blessed, blessed, blessed!

Where can my readers find you and your book?

Find CARYL at:

Website - http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo/author

Blog - http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/0/

116386927782468472563/posts

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/gramilady 

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedIn.com/CarylMcAdoo

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/

181587.Caryl_McAdoo

“Giveaway - https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/71736-vow-

unbroken

Angie’s Diary - : http://angiesdiary.com/texas-tender/point-view-whos-

head/

S & Schuster - http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Caryl-McAdoo/

411169289

Amazon Author Pg - http://www.amazon.com/Caryl-McAdoo/e/

B00E963CFG

Buy VOW UNBROKEN at:

AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Vow-Unbroken-Novel-Caryl-McAdoo/dp/

1476735514 

BARNES & NOBLE

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vow-unbroken-caryl-mcadoo/

1115884744?ean=9781476735511 

MARDEL http://www.mardel.com/search/default.aspx?

Keyword=VOW+UNBROKEN

CHRISTIANBOOK

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/mcadoo-caryl/vow-unbroken/

5982209.html 

DEEPER SHOPPING

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/mcadoo-caryl/vow-unbroken/

5982209.html

Book Review Monday: Lies

Hey, everyone! I just finished reading the book "Lies" by my friend, Oliver Dahl. Here's a little bit about the book:

"Salem Massachusetts, 1692: Tituba curses two young girls, but Ann Putnam Jr. isn't one of them. In order to help save her friends, Ann develops a plan to accuse the remaining supposed witches of Salem. As the death count rises, each lie buries her deeper and deeper under a curse of her own doing. This tragic experience of guilt, abuse, power, and love gives a first-person view into the spine-chilling months where neighbor turned on neighbor at the word of a little girl."
My Thoughts:The Idea:
I loved the idea. I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, so I was very eager to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint in providing historical details that I appreciated. I recently saw both the plays "The Crucible" and "Afflicted: Daughters of Salem" so I was in the right mood to read this.
The Characters:

I would have liked to see a little more of the cast of characters, but I did feel that I knew the ones that were fleshed out. I understood Ann's actions, but did not support them.

The Plot:
The plot was good! It kept me reading. I wanted to see if Ann would change her mind and how that would happen. I read it in a very short amount of time.
The Setting:
I loved the setting. Salem in 1692. Pretty cool! The writing kept me in the time period as long as I read it, so I felt that was nicely done.

Overall:
I liked it and would recommend it! I think it would be better for a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it and think older readers could, also.

About the Author:

Born in 1998, Oliver Dahl is the oldest of five children and lives in Idaho. Previous to finishing middle school, "The Dreamers" had made Oliver one of Idaho's Top 50 Authors (2011) & its 2012 Student of the Year. Both "The Dreamers" and its sequel have spent time at the top of Amazon Category Bestseller lists. Oliver enjoys reading, blogging, vlogging, and laughing at his own jokes. He has twice as many Oscars as Leonardo DiCaprio, and has won the Tour de France as many times as Lance Armstrong. You can learn more about Oliver and his Oscars at www.oliverdahl.com

Music Thursday: Nobody's Side

Hi, everyone! After today, my spring break has officially started! Yay! 

Here's a fun song to start off your Thursday: Nobody's Side from Chess.

Bible Verse Wednesday: Bad Company

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character." 

1 Corinthians 15:33

Book Review Monday: Echoes of Mercy

Hi everyone!

This weekend I finished reading Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Here's a little about the book:
"Sometimes a secret must be kept for the truth to be revealed.
When a suspicious accident occurs at the famous Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event and how the factory treats its youngest employees—the child workers. Caroline’s fervent faith, her difficult childhood, and compassionate heart drove her to her job as an investigator for the Labor Commission and she is compelled to see children freed from such heavy adult responsibilities, to allow them to pursue an education.
Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father. Caroline and Oliver become fast friends, but tension mounts when the two find themselves at odds about the roles of child workers. Hiding their identities becomes even more difficult when fate brings them together over three children in desperate need. When all is revealed, will the truth destroy the love starting to grow between them?"

My Thoughts:

The Idea:

Loved the general concept of this story! It was kind of like detective-agent meets Undercover Boss and I enjoyed it. I liked the characters, and the plot was good. My only complaint is that I wished there was a little more romance, but overall, I enjoyed it and would read it again.

The Characters:

Carrie is a good character! I admired her and her decisions throughout the book. I loved how she took in three kids who she had no connection to. She was a very good person.

I really loved Ollie. He was awesome! I was very intrigued by his position in the chocolate factory as a janitor, as he "spied" on the goings-on for his father. I enjoyed the characters' interaction.

The Plot:

It kept me reading! At some parts, I was very scared for the characters. I was invested in them and didn't want them to get hurt!

The Setting:

Awesome! What better place to set a book than a chocolate factory? Except, it did make me a little hungry...

Overall:

This was a good read and I would recommend it to my friends!

About the Author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling, award-winning author with more than one million copies of her books currently in print. Awards include the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Sawyer lives in central Kansas, where she and her retired military husband, Don, run a bed-and-breakfast inn with the help of their feline companions. She savors time with her daughters and grandchildren.

Author Hometown: Kansas

- See more at: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/press-room-author.php?id=162648#sthash.jMGKGs1Z.dpuf

Writing Friday: New Reviews

Happy Friday, everyone!

I am very excited for the weekend. I'll be attending a local writer's group and my playwright roundtable.

Plus, I have some news!

This week, Swept to Sea got a few new reviews! Here's what some people are saying:


"Swept to Sea is a very impressive debut by my friend and teen author, Heather Manning. Swept to Sea is an action-packed, high seas, romantic adventure...I hope to see Swept to Sea in paperback one day, because it would have a permanent spot on my bookshelf. I recommend Swept to Sea for any pirate loving, action fan, romance junkie reader." Read the full review on the Literary & Lace blog. 

"I told this to Heather and I'll say it here: reading "Swept to Sea," to me, felt like I was reading a Disney Pixar/Disney Princess movie. That was a good thing!...I liked how the book was written, what with its accurate period-references and jargon and descriptions. You felt like you were in 17th century London/Caribbean." Read the full review on the Get it Write Tonight blog.

"Did not want to put it down at night. Excellent job!!" Read the full review on Amazon.

These are just three among many! Swept to Sea has 23 four- and five-star reviews on Amazon.

Plus, you can still get Swept to Sea from Smashwords for 50% off using the code: REW50
Please tell everyone you know!

Music Thursday: Let it Go

Did you watch the Oscars? Then you may heave heard John Travolta butcher fabulous singer Idina Menzel's name. Now, I have heard some rumors going around that he is dyslexic, but nonetheless, it would have been nice to learn her name. :)

Anyway, according to this widget, my "Travolta-fied" name is Hector Morzgan. What's yours?

After you discover your new name, listen to this stunning performance of "Let it Go" performed by Idina Menzel, Jimmy Fallon, and The Roots (featuring classroom instruments.)

Bible Verse Wednesday: Riches of His Glory

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Broadway Tuesday: Unworthy of Your Love

Hey everyone!
I really love this song...I've been enjoying it the last few days! This a really cool musical that I want to see live someday.
Here is "Unworthy of Your Love" from Sondheim's musical "Assassins."

Recognize them? 

That's Ruthie Henshall, from the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Mis.....

And John Barrowman from Miss Saigon!

Pretty cool, huh?

Swept to Sea News

Hey everyone!

I have some fun news for you today!

First of all, you can purchase Swept to Sea for 50% off THIS WEEK ONLY on Smashwords using the code: REW50
Please spread the word to your friends and family!

Second, I wanted to tell you that Swept to Sea is on the Amazon Bestseller list again!

Today it is spending its 50th day on that list!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me get there. I appreciate all of you!