Sunday, February 19, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: “Children of Dreams,” Five Stars from Amazon Review/Author Katherine Harms: “Finding Fulfillment”





Here is a review that Katherine Harms posted last week that I loved. Yes, some reviews impact authors more than others; when they hit that nerve within us that speaks to the heart of what we have written. 

*~*~*~*

I think everyone I know has asked at some time, “Why am I here?” Lorilyn Roberts asks that question, too, and she answers it in Children of Dreams. Acting on her faith that God never abandons someone who is following his call, Lorilyn wades through, works around, or climbs over obstacles spread over half a world. Having traveled in a few third-world countries myself, I recognized some of the bureaucratic nightmares that stalked her effort to adopt two little girls and fulfill her dream and calling to be a mother. 

Many people would have been stopped in their tracks by the initial processes and endless forms required for an international adoption. Many, many people would have wilted in Nepal as soon as they discovered they should have brought a carton of toilet paper with them. Not many single women would have braved what passes for a mountain highway in Nepal on a tiny scooter navigating past barricades and stone-throwing rebels for love of a baby. Many people would have given up on the whole thing as promise after promise was broken in Viet Nam before Lorilyn finally held her new baby in her arms.

A chronicle of faith in action, Lorilyn’s path was as convoluted and full of tears as the path of the Israelites to the promised land. She, too, discovered that God has his own way of shining light into dark days and ultimately giving his children more than they even hope for. This book is worth much more than the time you will spend reading it. Don't miss Children of Dreams.

Friday, February 17, 2012

“SOCIALISM IS A PHILOSOPHY OF FAILURE” – Quote by WINSTON CHURCHILL: Christian Blogger Lorilyn Roberts





“Socialism is a philosophy of failure,
the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy,
its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
-- Winston Churchill


These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read:
Unfortunately, most voters don't know this.
(I don’t know who to credit for the following, but it’s too well said not to repeat)

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them; and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.


Can you think of any reason for not sharing this?

Neither could I...

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

GUEST POST BY DEBORAH MALONE: A Cozy Mystery, “Death in Dahlonega”





When I offered to host Deborah Malone on my blog and she told me her novel was a “cozy mystery,” I wondered if I was the only person who had never heard that phrase. It reminded me of the Star Trek episode from “The Trouble With Tribbles,” where it seemed everyone knew what a tribble was but Captain Kirk.


If it’s a new term for you also, here is a definition from  http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Definition-of-a-Cozy-Mystery.html:


“The crime-solver in a cozy mystery is usually a woman who is an amateur sleuth. Almost always, she has a college degree, whether she is using it or not. Her education and life’s experiences have provided her with certain skills that she will utilize in order to solve all the crimes that are “thrown her way.” The cozy mystery heroine is usually a very intuitive, bright woman….”


Well, I guess that “intuitive” part means I will never make it as an amateur sleuth – I am not very observant. But at least in books, you can become who you aren’t in real life and enjoy being someone else. Is that not part of the joy of reading good books?


Here is a short interview with Debbie about her new book, Death in Dahlonega.

LORILYN: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

DEBBIE: Death in Dahlonega is my debut cozy mystery. It is based on two friends who find themselves in a bit of a scrape. Trixie is a magazine writer and she is on assignment in Dahlonega, Georgia, and her friend Dee Dee has tagged along. Dee Dee owns an antique shop and this will be the perfect place for her to shop for antiques and other goodies. The girls are watching a film at the gold museum when Dee Dee has to go to the bathroom - this is not unusual for Dee Dee. While she is nosing around in the rooms she happens upon a dead body. She automatically pulls out the pickaxe and winds up being the main person of interest. The handsome sheriff is ready to retire and run for mayor, so Trixie doesn't think he's trying very hard to find the real killer. So she and Dee Dee take matters in their own hands. The question is will they find the real killer before Dee Dee ends up in the slammer?

I am working on my next two releases with Trixie and Dee Dee. The first one is Murder in Marietta and the second one is Terror in Tybee Island.

LORILYN: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND IN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE A STORY?

DEBBIE: I like to visit the area and take lots of pictures as well as interview people that are familiar with the area. Then I continue to do research throughout the whole book to keep it fresh in my mind. I don't really know how much time, but it is a good bit. Research is imperative.

LORILYN: WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

Well, I don't know about what I learned, but I do have a funny story. When I went to the gold museum and talked with the real ranger about taking pics/interviewing them etc. for the book she hurriedly called her boss and then preceded to tell me I couldn't write about their security system. Of course, I didn't know about their security system so it was funny for me. I really don't think she knew what a cozy mystery was.

DEBBIE: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT WRITING?

Now that I've been published, I don't have as much time to do other things, but I like to take photographs. I'm enjoying meeting people through my marketing of Death in Dahlonega.

LORILYN: HOW CAN READERS CONTACT YOU AND/OR LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WRITING?

DEBBIE: You can contact me by going to my website deborah-malone.com. I would love to hear from my readers and if anyone wants a signed copy I’d be glad to do that, and my email is debbiejeanm@gmail.com.  Thank you for having me on your blog!