"Light" Reading

Survive the Easter weekend? Ready to get your summer reading list together? On occasion, I like to invite an author I admire to drop by my blog and share a little about how they balance their life or what they're up to. Early this year, I had the chance to work with Inspirational author, Regina Andrews, in an editorial capacity. She writes beautiful, uplifting stories that intertwine faith and romance. Read on to see what Regina had to say to my questions:

Hi Regina, my sweet friend. We met through the yahoo group, The Sweetest Romance Authors. You are a talented author and a fine lady.

Hi Danielle, and thank you so much for hosting me today. I think your blog is wonderful, and I am thrilled to be here!

Thanks. Tell us about your genre, or do you write in more than one?

Mostly I write Inspirational Romances, with a touch of suspense. I am also interested in Historical Inspirational Romances (That’s a mouthful!) as well.

Did you choose your genre or did it choose you?

Definitely it chose me. Everything else I tried was okay, but to me without the added dimension of faith it seemed to fall flat.

Is there any genre you'd like to try? Is there one you wouldn't?

I love science fiction and may try that. Steampunk is very interesting, too. I would not touch horror. I’m a scaredy cat!

What fiction do you read for pleasure?

I love Maeve Binchy, Barbara Delinsky and Danielle Steele. Also Mitch Albom.

Readers make great writers! Tell a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

Growing up in Rhode Island, our lives revolved around the ocean and still do, really. We lived right near the beach, and every day my mother and I would walk there when the weather was good. She always read to me, and eventually we’d walk to the beach and read our own books.

You were blessed! I'd have loved to have grown up on the beach. So, which of your characters is your favorite?

I love them all, but I do love Maryanne Lynch from ANGELS OF THE HEART, which I just finished. It will be released by Desert Breeze Publishing in August. Maryanne lost her faith as a young girl and spent a lot of time trying to ignore God’s presence in her life. I think lots of us try and sidestep Him, for so many reasons.

I know that's true. You have a knack for touching on universal spiritual struggles. Are there villains in your books, and how were they created?

Mostly my villains are character issues: intolerance, selfishness or small-minded spitefulness. It is evil, actually which is my villain. Only takes one person to poison a whole group!

You must have read my Bad Apple post. (Ha!) What are you working on now?

Thanks for asking. Right now I am working on PRAISES OF THE HEART which is Book Three of the Sterling Lakes Series. It is due in September. At the same time, I am sketching ideas for book four, too.

I see. A write-a-holic! I love series. Please share more about LIGHT OF THE HEART. I've read it, I loved it.

LIGHT OF THE HEART released in March. It is Book One in the Sterling Lake Series. I grew up in a nice small town with very few problems and as I’ve had more experience in life, I have seen how fortunate I was and how unusual my experiences really were. I began to wonder what it would have been like to grow up with problems. What would I have done? Would my faith be as strong? That sort of thinking gave me the idea, and as I was working it seemed like there was too much going on in the town for me to wrap it up in one book. So the story arc was sketched out and the series was born. I am so grateful to Gail and Desert Breeze for accepting this idea and giving the good folks of Sterling Lakes a chance to tell their stories!

So am I, and I’m thankful I got to work with you on it.

Here’s an excerpt, I hope you enjoy! Thank you for having me, Danielle.

LIGHT OF THE HEART: Excerpt

Chapter One

The afternoon class at Tanglewood Women's Prison was a spectrum of tension, as separated and splintered as a beam of light refracted through a prism. Cascade Preston held her student's template assignment up to the light overhead, and spoke carefully on the quality of the stained glass project.

"With two lights, or openings, Brenda, I would say your idea of a church window for this one would be correct."

Sighing, the student replied, "So you think I'm making progress?"

"Of course." She tossed her honey-colored curls behind her shoulders. "Don't you?"

Brenda snorted. "Heck, no. I'm in here for domestic assault. What do I know about progress? My life is over."

This stopped Cascade in her tracks. "Look, we all make mistakes. God has told us that sinners should flock to him. What do you think? "

Brenda shrugged. "God has his own agenda. We'll see what the parole board says about mine in two weeks."

"For now, let's focus on next week's class. Bring me a flower for that one.”

"Where are we supposed to get a flower?" someone muttered.

"Draw one, stupid," Brenda answered.

"Bye, ladies. Take care."

"See you." Sad-eyed, Brenda gave her a high-five as Cascade walked past her.

Cascade's heels clicked efficiently with her every crisp step, and she made sure to shuttle as closely as possible alongside the beefy guard who escorted her from the holding room. Getting into her Corolla, she whispered a prayer. "I don't think I'm doing any good here, Lord, but I feel you telling me to stick with it. So I will. Maybe this is the kind of thing that saved my mother." She tried to block the images of her mother's bruises from her mind, but they wouldn't go away. They never did.

The drive back into Boston passed by quickly, without too much traffic. "Lean on Me" blasted from her audio system, and she sang along with all her heart. At twenty-seven, she knew it was technically an oldie, but to her, it was fresh and filled with meaning. Cascade wondered as she sang what it would feel like to have someone to lean on, because she had always been alone.

"There's only one thing that could make tonight perfect," she mused as she pulled into the parking area for her condo complex, "and that's not going to happen, for sure."

Images of her long-gone fiancé, Kevin, came into her mind and heart. Where was he this fine June evening? More importantly, why were things so much better for him without her in his life?

A form crossing her path brought her back to reality. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed someone walking towards her car. A guy -- a big guy she did not recognize.

She shaded her eyes from the late day sun. Dark hair and outdoorsy looks. Work boots. "Nope,” she murmured to herself, “I don't know him."

Hopping from her car, she said, "Can I help you?"

"If you're Cascade Preston, you sure can."

He folded his arms across his chest. With all those muscles moving, Cascade could only imagine the stress put on the seams of his light blue cotton shirt.

"And you are..."

"Dan McQuay." He extended his arm towards her. "From the site."

"Hi." Cascade pumped his strong hand, lost in his sky blue eyes. "What site?"

He tilted his head. "The construction site."

"I'm not following you."

He looked at her steadily. "I'm project manager for the retrofit on the church in Sterling Lakes. The one that you're doing the windows for."

Cascade’s heartbeat quickened. Just hearing the name of the town where she grew up made her anxious and tense. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding. No way am I working on anything in Sterling Lakes." She started to bustle past him. "Now if you'll excuse me?"

"Don't run away, Ms. Preston. There's a problem here."

His tone of voice got her attention. He sounded like he cared... about her. That was crazy. She was a total stranger to him.

She nodded. "Apparently there is a problem, you're right. I don't know what you're talking about. Like I said, I'm not doing any work in Sterling Lakes, and I never will. That's the last place in the world I ever would go."

He gave a slow whistle. "Well, that's a loaded speech if I ever heard one."

In spite of herself, she smiled. "I didn't mean to get all hot and huffy, but it is how I feel, and I have my good reasons."

He eyed her intently before he finally spoke. "Understood. The thing is, your name is on the plans that I have, and my crew is ready to get going. We haven't heard from you, and we need to have a job meeting. Mostly, we need your specs."

Cascade noticed the strong line of his jaw when he spoke, and oh, those bluer than blue eyes of his were so easy to get lost in. She swallowed.

"I don't know what to tell you. I'm not contracted for that job. Your project executive should be able to answer your questions." She toyed with the zipper on her oversized leather shoulder bag as she watched thunderclouds roll across his handsome face. "Look, why don't you give me his name? I'll check things out at my studio in the morning and get in touch with him. Maybe I can get to the bottom of this."

"Yup." He took his hands out of his pockets. "Here's my business card, and here's his. Try and remember, every day is money to me."

"Okay, I know. I'm in business, too, so I get it. I know every job I'm on, and this one is not on my list. Let me see if I can find out why I'm on the list of subcontractors... if I really am."

"You are."

"I shouldn't be, so there's a mistake. I never even sent in a bid."

"At least we found out something tonight," he said with a shrug. "Other than you being a whole lot prettier in person than in the pictures all those magazine articles and newspaper stories print about you."

Cascade’s face warmed up at his compliment. "Now you're trying to butter me up."

"Just stating the truth, plain and simple like I always do, Ms. Preston. That's my way. Thank you for your time."

"You're welcome."

He started walking over to his truck. "Talk to you tomorrow."

"Right. And there's one more thing."

He questioned her with a wondering look.

"Please call me Cascade." Her smile lingered as she watched him drive off into the Boston twilight. Too bad this job was in Sterling Lakes. It might not be that bad to do a job with Dan McQuay. Not bad at all.

Light of the Heart is available for purchase

at Desert Breeze Publishing.

It's a wonderful story, and I recommend it. Put it on your To Be Read list!

~Danielle Thorne

Happy Birthday, Desert Breeze Publishing!

This month marks the two year anniversary since Desert Breeze Publishing opened its doors. I first met the owners of Desert Breeze, Gail Delaney and Jenifer Ranieri, in Las Vegas at the 2009 Epicon Conference. These two talented ladies were working from the ground up, including a cross country move so they could be near one another to build a reputable electronic company that published books with tasteful content. I was both impressed and grateful that there were options for authors writing "heartwarming" stories.

My first ever published novel, THE PRIVATEER, was contracted in 2007 with another company that sold out months before publication. Unfortunately, it saw little editing, and the new publisher did not honor the contract or my other subsequent books there. When its sequel, BY HEART AND COMPASS, published with Desert Breeze, we discussed moving THE PRIVATEER to join its companion, and fortunately for me, it all worked out beautifully!

THE PRIVATEER is about a West Indies privateer with a pirating past. Julius Bertrand is doing the best he can to make it in society while carrying out clandestine work for the government. When a new doctor and his precocious daughter arrive to his island colony, Bertrand finds himself distracted by the idea of choosing a wife. His ambitions lead him to make regrettable choices that almost kill him and those he loves.

In the sequel, BY HEART AND COMPASS, Lacey Whitman buys a restored Victorian home, but never dreams discovering an antique diary will lead her back into the arms of the dive bum she’d rather forget. Her habit of living in the past comes to a halt as diver Max Bertrand and the diary of his ancestor take Lacey on the quest of a lifetime: To discover and raise the privateer ship, Specter, and bring the treasure and legacy of a true hero home again.

Both books have won recognition: BY HEART AND COMPASS was a top ten finisher (#2) in the 2010 Preditors and Editors Readers Poll and nominated for a Whitney Award. THE PRIVATEER is a Desert Breeze best seller. I couldn't be any happier with the professionalism and integrity of Desert Breeze Publishing. The authors are talented and the staff is committed. If you're looking for a few good authors, browse the reading list at Desert Breeze. You won't be disappointed!

Happy Birthday, Desert Breeze!

Surprise! All visitors who comment before midnight, Friday the 22^nd, will be entered in a drawing for a copy of

THE PRIVATEER

**Don't forget to follow THE BALANCED WRITER if you haven't signed on!**

THE PRIVATEER

When Captain Julius Bertrand’s pirating past returns with the explosive force of a sweeping broadside, he finds he must sacrifice everything his respectable life has brought him, in order to save what matters most.

Available at Desert Breeze Publishing, Amazon.com and online bookstores everywhere!

BY HEART AND COMPASS

Genealogist Lacey Whitman prefers the dead, so her heart must be her compass as she goes head to head with the only living man who can help her find a centuries old pirate ship.

Available at Desert Breeze Publishing, Amazon.com and online bookstores everywhere!

Don't miss out! THE PRIVATEER NEWSLETTER's April issue comes out soon! Sign up now!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePrivateerNewsletter/?yguid=197416267

Remembering the Titanic

Today marks the ninety-ninth anniversary of the infamous passenger ship tragedy, RMS Titanic. This event is touching for me, as two weeks ago I spent time in the amazing Titanic Museum in Orlando, Florida, one of the largest Titanic exhibits in the world.

This particular museum is housed in rooms within rooms, all designed to give the visitor the sensation of actually being aboard the doomed vessel. From the docks (where the current fashions and news of the day are displayed), we moved on to boarding and met several of Titanic's famous passengers (biographies). We then slipped passed those famous beautiful doors and their iron scrollwork and found ourselves standing on Deck Two at the foot of the Grand Staircase. Looking up, even the replica chandelier was visible -- an awe-inspiring beauty.

Passages closed off the lower decks as we explored dining rooms, elaborate first class state rooms, the upper outside decks and night view, a boiler room, the bridge and of course, the radio room.

There was a special spirit in the museum, whether from the artifacts or the solemn placards and photographs trailing from one room to the next.

Another exhibit was an interesting collection of Titanic films through the ages with memorabilia from the last blockbuster hit featuring Kate Winslet and Leonard DiCaprio. Do you recognize the costume below? It's one of the actual outfits worn by DiCaprio.

The most poignant part of our tour came as the end drew near. We stood in a very cool room with its mock iceberg, made of actual ice, and stared at a nautical chart on the wall. There the planned route for the ship was marked. Just below that, a bold black line showed the actual route. Titanic took a late turn ten miles past the original planned coordinates. That ten mile difference, along with ignored warnings from other ships and insufficient preparation, led Titanic directly into the iceberg's path and to destruction. The significance gives one much to ponder.

One of the most infamous peacetime maritime disasters, the Titanic touches us with its series of unbelievable unfortunate events that led to the loss of over 1,500 people. It humbled Man who declared her unsinkable. It is a lesson that history should never forget.

Next year, the 100th anniversary of the sinking is planned to be commemorated around the world. I for one, will be watching closely.

~Danielle Thorne

Links of Interest:

Titanic Museum: http://titanictheexperience.com/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic


Below is my favorite artifact in the exhibit. This deck lounge chair was recovered within days after the sinking by a salvage ship. I spent a long time studying this teak chair and wondering about the last person who sat in it, relaxing as he or she watched the deep blue ocean slide alongside the world's first "unsinkable" ship.

Bad Apples

I love the smell of apples. Of course, by this time of year they are out of season which means whenever I pick up a bag they are rarely fresh and turn bad quickly. My family and I just returned from a nice spring break cruise, and fresh tropical fruit notwithstanding, I had a reminding peek of the old adage, "There's a bad apple in every barrel." Not all apples turn out to be lovely.

The first interlude I had with Mrs. Bad Apple happened while waiting for my hot chocolate at a coffee shop. She stomped up to the counter and stuck her cup in the poor cashier's face. It was terrible, awful and tasted so bad she was sure it wasn't the latte she ordered. The confrontation did nothing for her carefully applied layers of makeup or designer sundress. She screamed like a three-year-old and demanded to see the girl who had made up her order.

Embarrassed for the cashier, I waited patiently for him to deal with her, even though she had interrupted me. When the girl who made the order came to the front, the entire shop was treated to the same loud accusations. Mrs. Bad Apple then demanded to see the carton labels so she could check for some mysterious ingredient she was not supposed to consume -- but the writing was too small. She bellowed for her husband, who I realized was standing as far away from her as possible. A quiet, handsome fellow, he rushed over and followed her instructions. It felt like watching a stage play. I was mortified by her behavior and her tone with the international staff.

Later I ran into the Apples having their portraits taken on board the cruise ship we shared. Her children, a boy and a girl, were beautiful. Mrs. Bad Apple snapped at the photographer and her family. If she would have known how unattractive her glossed Botox-injected lips looked while she fussed at everyone she would have been embarrassed. I wanted to throw darts at her just to relieve the tension.

Our last run-in was an interesting coincidence. After leaving the port, I found a long line that would return us to our car. As we stood in the hot sun waiting for the shuttle bus, along came the Apples. She dragged her children past the line to the front curb with a porter wheeling their bags. I ground my teeth as I watched the family surpass everyone waiting in line, expecting to be first on the bus. To my surprise and delight, and before I started throwing things, Mr. Apple motioned for his wife to get in the back of the line while he waited at the curb with their bags. An argument ensued. The missus stomped to the back of the line. Finally, after sweating for thirty minutes, the bus arrived. As it pulled into the lot, one of the Apples' children announced he had to potty. I thought Mrs. Bad Apple would bust a blood vessel. She took off her child, making it clear the shuttle was to wait. The rest of us loaded our luggage and boarded. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for the length of the line. Those in the back would have to wait for the next shuttle.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, we saw Mrs. Apple return to see the shuttle departing without her luggage or family on it. Her husband stood calmly at the curb waiting his turn. His wife…well I never got to hear the end of that story, and I'm thankful.

We all know there's no excuse for losing your cool in public or being impolite. At least we should. My biggest concern out of all of this experience is the image of my fellow countrymen when traveling abroad. I hope the international community understands Americans don't all act like spoiled children over mixed up food orders and long lines. Most of us love each other and believe in kindness and equality. I hope they've heard the expression, "There's a bad apple in every barrel," too. As far as Mrs. Bad Apple, perhaps she's never heard of Karma -- but that's a blog for another day.

Wishing you a wonderful Spring Break with no bad apples!

~Danielle Thorne