Dialogue Splitting

What is it?

A dialogue split is when a character says something, then does an action, then continues speaking.

“Look! It’s a plane! Mary exclaimed. “No, wait, it’s a space ship!”

This is perfectly fine as a sentence.

However, I’ve been seeing a lot of this:

“Cassandra,” Joe said firmly, wondering if Cassandra would even listen to what he had to say about Gerald’s time in the jungle and the fact that he claimed to have seen a leopard turn into a human. “Do you think maybe Gerald was seeing things?”

Mechanically, there is nothing wrong with the sentence. All the ‘t’s’ are crossed, all the ‘i’s’ are dotted, commas and periods in the right place. Capitalization is proper and grammar is...well..we won't go there. :)

However, the dialogue is disrupted by Joe’s thinking about a 3rd character.

There are three people in this scene, even though Joe is only speaking to Cassandra.

The third character, Gerald, is actually the center of attention.

In romance, as much as possible, the hero and heroine should be the center of attention.

Cassandra paced the room, frowning with concern. “Joe, you were there in the jungle, did you ever see anything like Gerald claims? Will you start spouting weird stuff about the jungle after we’re married? Is this something I need to worry about?”

Gerald will be my new brother-in-law, better keep the peace.

“Cassandra,” Joe said, firmly. “I enjoyed my time in the jungle and didn’t experience anything out of this world. Do you think maybe Gerald was seeing things?”


The focus of the sentences have now returned to hero and heroine. Sure, they’re discussing another person, but now, the reader has their feelings in the forefront of the scene. Cassandra is worried about Joe, based on her brother’s response, but Joe is reassuring her he’ll be fine, despite the brother’s mind slip.

Try hard to temper dialogue splits without the distraction of another person, or speculation on their actions or thoughts. Keep the focus on hero and heroine, even when they are discussing someone else. Put the hero and heroine’s feelings and actions in the split, not someone else’s.

Be careful, too, that your dilaogue split is needed. Don't break the tension unless it is truly necessary.

My 5 Favorite Writing Books

The market is flooded with books about writing - fiction writing, nonfiction writing, freelance writing children's book writing, romance writing, etc.  I could go on and on but I won't.

I've bought my share of these books, some more helpful than others. If I had to make a list of my favorites (and I do because that's what I've decided to blog about today) I'd rate these books as my top 5.

1. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
I read this book for a college writing class many years ago (no I'm not going to say how many) and this is the book that really inspired me to write on a regular basis.  It's the perfect book for a beginning writer.  Goldberg's approach is more personal than academic, but tremendously helpful none the less.

2. Guide to Fiction Writing by Phyllis A. Whitney
Whitney is most well known for her juvenile books and her romantic suspense books.  But she was also a good writing teacher - to me at least.  Natalie Goldberg got me into the habit of writing.  Phyllis Whitney showed me how to take all those scribblings and make a story out of them.  This book was more about structure and organization than inspiration. Following Whitney's suggestions definitely put me another step closer to being ready for publication.

3.  Sally Stuart's Christian Writer's Market Guide
Actually Stuart's guide isn't the only one I use and I don't recommend that it should be the only guide any writer uses.  I think it's a good guide to start with because it contains lots of small markets that are open to working with beginners. It also has information on writing conferences and organizations.

Market guides are expensive and buying two or three every year is out of my budget.  I recommend buying your favorite market guide every year or two and then supplementing a library copy of another market guide when you need to check on a market not listed in that guide.  If your library doesn't have a copy, they can request it through interlibrary loan.

4.  Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin
This is a solid basic guide for writers who are trying to break into the inspirational romance market, especially if you are aiming at category romance publishers like Steeple Hill or Heartsong Presents.  Martin has written extensively for both of these companies.

5.  From the Inside Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You by Susan May Warren
This is my latest discovery.  I enjoy Warren's books, so I looked her up on the internet.  It turns out that she and fellow author Rachel Hauck started a blog and then a Ning community called My Book Therapy.  Their Monday night chats are better than any class I've paid for.  I actually take notes!  The book was a recent purchase and I admit I haven't finished it yet, but I have no doubt that it belongs in this list.

There they are - my top five.  If you're a writer, please leave a comment and tell me what's on your list.

Royal Dreams

This morning on the Today show, there was much speculation about a pending royal engagement between Prince William and his girlfriend, Kate Middleton. Usually, I let the TV drone on in the background while I get ready. But, this time, I stopped what I was doing and sat and watched the segment.

Watching the dashing prince, I couldn't help but revisit that day way back in 1981 when his mother, Lady Diana Spencer, married Prince Charles and became the Princess of Wales. I know I'm dating myself here...I wasn't that old. Barely 13.

But old enough to set my alarm clock for the wee hours and watch the royal wedding unfold on live television. It was the stuff of young girls' fantasies. The bride even arrived in a real glass coach! I think that was the day I fell in love with romance.


Prince Charles and Princess Diana
on their wedding day, July 29, 1981

It was also the day I fell in love with royalty, a love that is still near and dear to my heart. Like Elle Woods from the Legally Blonde movies,  I am convinced I have the perfectly shaped head for a tiara.

Why do so many of us harbor secret dreams of castles, glittering crowns and Prince Charming? I think it's a dream God has placed in all our hearts. A dream that will ultimately be fulfilled. But we won't be given a crown that can be tarnished by earthly things. God's Word tells us we will be given a "crown of glory which will never fade away" (1 Peter 5:4).

And as for Prince Charming, riding in on his white horse? We don't wait for Him in vain...

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True" (Rev 19:11).

In my upcoming series from White Rose Publishing, I explore these dreams of royalty, tiaras and handsome heroes on white horses. Rodeo Royalty kicks off on July 16, with the release of Book 1 ~ Rodeo Redemption!

Rodeo Redemption releases on July 16, 2010


Rodeo Rescue,
Book 2 in the Rodeo Royalty Series


Rodeo Resurrection,
Book 3 in the Rodeo Royalty Series

Until then, embrace your role as a princess in the Kingdom of Heaven!


"But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God ,that you may
declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9


Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover's soul
Cup of Joe ~ Available NOW from White Rose Publishing

Christianity - It's A Topic Worth Pondering



Hello, WRiB blog followers! I hope you're finding the time and ability to enjoy the blessings of this Easter season. Do you savor the rebirth of the world around us as spring quite literally erupts? Do you take joy in the long days and lazy nights as, at long last, spring and summer take hold following winter's term?

This past weekend, as my DH and I prepared our home (and hearts!) for a college graduation party for our daughter, I got to thinking. I'm a child of ritual, and, to a degree, there's comfort in that truth, and in the heartbeat of nature's timeless cycle.

For example, before I go to bed each night, I have my own little cycle, or routine. 1. I pray and, if so inspired, journal in my 'Book of Thanks." 2. I read the day's passage from "Daily Word." 3. I read the day's passage from "Living Faith." 4. I read from my most current TBR. 5. At long last, I doze off.

A couple nights ago, the readings from "Living Faith" came to me from the Acts of the Apostles, and it hit me hard. It speaks to the durability of Christianity, and it's one of my favorites:

‘If this endeavor is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy it. In fact, you may find yourselves fighting against God.’ (Acts 5:34-42 NIV)

The verses bear enormous impact on all of us as believers, and is, without doubt, one of the most underrated, yet powerful words to be found in the Bible.

The truth is this: Christianity is 2000+ years strong - and came to be in an age far removed from any form of mass communication. Yet, to this day, it powers, connects, challenges and enlightens so many millions, offering love and hope to those who seek. Believer or not, the fact remains: Something "happened" all those thousands of Easter’s ago.

If not, Christianity wouldn’t have survived for long following Christ’s death on the cross.

Throughout the ages, many false prophets performed powerful deeds, and spoke powerful words, but their followers soon died out. That never happened with Christianity. Instead, followers of Jesus became stronger. Think about that! What made a group of people (who were so scared they denied Christ and locked themselves in an upper room for days) go out into the world and enthusiastically proclaim the Gospel – knowing they were putting themselves in grave danger?

The Apostles were willing to risk death by gruesome meas. You don’t do that just to preserve someone’s “reputation.”

These were the actual first-hand witnesses to Christ’s life, death and resurrection. They didn’t back down. They all suffered and died for the Truth, yet they spread the gospel like holy wildfire! That is not only powerful, it transformed the world.

When I find myself frustrated by world events, and the culture in which we live, I keep this verse handy . While we live in times that seems to go against many of Christ’s teachings, we already know the end of the story. We already rest sure in the knowledge of God’s mercy, grace, guidance and love.

Is there any greater gift to consider as we continue to travel the resurrection path?

Blessings, everyone!


Marianne Evans

Policing Procedure

The title is a play on words of an actual method of detecting crime and how crime books are written – they are called police procedurals. Because the actions are so important to working out how the crime happened, it is important to clue the reader in step-by-step so they get a fix on how the crime was committed and who the guilty party may be.

What does that have to do with romance? A lot. Romance should not be written via a procedure. Romance is character-driven and people are not linear, nor do they do things in chronological order every time.

Let us look at the definition of PROCEDURE:

a particular course of action
a process or series of acts
a set sequence of steps


Many writers use procedure in their manuscripts. A connect-the-dots series of actions to take their characters where they want them.

The issue is that it bogs down the manuscript whose primary goal is to develop the romantic relationship. Making the characters go through specific steps over and over is tedious. Yes, it is important that the reader understand where the character is in the scene, but it can be written much tighter.

An example pf procedure:

Mary unlatched the screen door and then opened it, stepping out onto the porch to walk down the sidewalk to collect the mail.

A better, tighter way to write it:

Mary went to get the mail.


Look at your manuscripts and eliminate over long sentences that describe a series of steps. Ask your critique partners to be on the lookout for procedures that simply bog down the character’s actions. Writing tight action allows authors to spend more time on developing character and romantic relationships.

Dealing with Differences

Readers that know me are aware that I have a special place in my heart for children who have disabilities.  I wanted to explain about how that affects my work in today's post.


In The Prodigal Father (From Five Star Expressions), the heroine's two year old daughter, Risa, has Down syndrome. She will soon turn three and transition from the Birth to Three Program to the public school's Early Childhood class.  The Birth to Three Program is a federally and state funded program that provides help for children under the age of three who have significant developmental delays.  This help may take the form of speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, early education, and assistance in gaining access to appropriate government assistance programs.

My youngest daughter has Down syndrome.   She was born six weeks early, when we were getting ready to move from Illinois back to my home state of Wisconsin.  She was supposed to be born about a month after our move, but my little girl had other ideas.  Coping with a new community and a new child who has unexpected health problems was a huge challenge.  I was completely lost - until I met our Birth to Three services coordinator.

Our doctor in Illinois would not release my daughter from the hospital until he was sure we had a new pediatrician lined up in Wisconsin and that the Birth to Three Program had my daughter on their list of clients.  And I'm very glad he did!  My Birth to Three services coordinator soon became my best friend - literally.  My book is dedicated to her and to all the Birth to Three professionals out there.

She helped my family manage my daughter's health problems, found community resources for us and even came with me to some of my daughter's doctor's appointments at The Children's Hospital of Milwaukee.  Our therapists were great sources of information and encouragement.  If you have never had a child with developmental delays in your family, chances are you haven't heard of the Birth to Three Program.  I think it is worth knowing about, no matter what your circumstances are because these wonderful, caring, dedicated professionals are true heroes.

Transition out of Birth to Three was a scary time for me.  I definitely planted some of my own feelings into Beth's, my heroine's heart on this.  Luckily for my daughter and for hers, there was a great public school program waiting to take over.  The school program does not extend it's support to the whole family as well as the Birth to Three Program, but I guess after three years, we were ready to stand on our own feet.

I worked for a year or so (in between library jobs.  Budget cuts, you know.) as an aide in the early childhood classroom for our school district.  This was several years after my own daughter had moved into elementary school.  As an aide I met many beautiful children with great potential inside them.  One such little girl had verbal dispraxia.  Messages from her brain did not always make it to her mouth and speaking was extremely difficult for this bright, loving little girl.  She became the inspiration for Charity in my Orchard Hill story "Accepting Charity."

I feel it is a great privilege to write about children like this who overcome many obstacles just to participate in daily life.  I have been blessed by knowing them and hope to convey that blessing to my readers.

Spotlight on By The Book & A Chance To Win A Download


Hi Friends!


Today, By The Book is being spotlighted over on Pamela's bog http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com/


If you get the chance, please stop by. As a special incentive to WRiB followers, after visiting her blog, leave a comment here. On Friday, I will choose one of the names and give away a free download of Teacher's Plans, Sweet Rest, Smuggler of the Heart, or Daniella.
Hope to see you there!

Rambling Roses of Summer

Spring is in the air! Since I seem to be the appointed white rose fairy of legend and lore, my post Flowers and herbs



Roses and Meanings



RED ROSE: proclaims “I love you”and is the ultimate symbol of romantic love and enduring passion



YELLOW ROSE: indicates friendship and are also appropriate for graduations, newlyweds, Texans and new mothers



PALE PINK ROSE: depicts grace, gratitude and gentleness, a joy to behold. They also express happiness and fun



DEEP PINK ROSE: say thank you



LAVENDAR OR LILAC ROSE: indicates the sender has fallen in love at first sight with the recipient and is enchanted



WHITE ROSE: pure white roses are a symbol of truth and innocence. They also send other messages “I miss you” and “You’re heavenly”



CORAL ROSE: express one thing with their passionate color—desire



PEACH ROSE: speak of appreciation, gratitude and also sympathy



ORANGE ROSE: express enthusiasm and desire on the part of the sender



DEAD ROSE: regardless of their color, dead roses scream it’s over loud and clear



MIXED ROSES:

PINK AND WHITE: symbolize peace and harmony

RED AND YELLOW: symbolize happiness and celebration

RED AND WHITE: symbolize bonding and harmony



ONE SINGLE RED ROSE: I love you but I’m not going to go broke telling you



TWO ROSES ENTWINED: An engagement or wedding is imminent





Looking for a unique rose bush to plant in your garden? Here are some of my favorites, each featured in my Easter story, Lasting Love.



BALLERINA ROSE

fragrant blossoms grow in clusters with ruffled edges

mature shrubs will be covered with hundreds of pink and white flowers

perfect rose for a garden party, a child’s birthday or ddance recital



FALLING IN LOVE ROSE

six blooms have a traditional hybrid tea rose form

petals are a romantic shade of warm pink with creamy reverse

great gift for anniversaries and a wonderful backdrop for prom pictures and weddings



SIMPLICITY ROSE

larger flower very fragrant

Citrusy aroma enhances each blossom

Fresh summer scent



SENTIMENTAL ROSE

vintage appeal

fragrance is strong, sweet and spicy

sweet centerpiece



CANDY LAND CLIMBING ROSE

luscious rose with pretty pink flowers with ivory stripes and an apple scent

vigorous blossoms grow on ten to twelve foot cane

fairy-tale backdrop



LASTING LOVE ROSE

hybrid tea rose

unusual shimmering jewel-toned rose

Powerful scent reminiscent of old fashioned rose

dark red with vibrant green leaves

big beautiful blossoms on bushy plant

classic and flawless appeal

very hearty and disease resistant

huge climbers and beautiful for lattice



ARCTIC FLAME ROSE

old fashioned rose scent radiates from satiny petals

timeless and romantic appeal



ANGEL FACE CLIMBING ROSE

deep mauve lavender flowers

wavy edging trimmed in deeper lavender

highly fragrant and quite hearty

easy to grow and very Victorian

Into the Grae: A Review

Into the Grae by Nicola Beaumont is the first book to be released in White Rose Publishing's new Gothic line.  The book blurb reads: Graeme McCracken, Lord Hamel, is cursed. Loving him is deadly, so he vows never again. Never fall in love, never risk another woman. Then he rescues Felicity Worthington and falls in love with the feisty beauty—but his love is fatal. Now, only God can save her…but will He, when He is the very God who cursed Graeme to begin with?

Felicity Worthington is on a mission from God: Kill Graeme McCracken and avenge her friend’s death. But the lord of the manor is strangely alluring and mysteriously magnetic—not at all the cold-hearted murderer painted by her mind’s eye. As she begins to trust, to love, she is devastated to find that Graeme is indeed the Butcher of Beacon Hill. When her life is threatened, she learns that only faith and love can save her from becoming the next victim on the moor.

At 77 pages Into the Grae is a quick read.  But it certainly had the potential to be a full length novel, if the author had chosen to make it one.  As it is, she did a great job of building plot and characters in the scope of the story.  All the typical Gothic elements were included - lonely old house, ancient family servant, brooding hero, innocent heroine and crazed villain.  Felicity is mesmerized by Graeme right from the start and readers will be, too.  His character is a mixture of deep, melodic voice, dark good looks, handsome face and mysterious past.

It is Felicity's faith that allows her to face Graeme, supposedly a heartless murderer, and to eventually realize that he is not to blame for the tragedies that have befallen him. It will be an even greater task for her to convince Graeme to lay aside the guilt he's taken upon himself and convince him that he is worthy of God's love.


The White Rose Publishing's Gothic line is off to a great start with Into the Grae.  I hope we will see more releases in this line soon.  For those readers that enjoy this story, you may want to try The Resurrection of Lady Somerset, another Gothic romance by Nicola Beaumont.

Moments You Can Use...

There a times when a writer gets to a point where the scene is descriptive, the dialogue is crisp and the meanings are clear to the reader. But time moves forward, and there is a transitional stage where one must fill up that time with a Moment. A Moment is one of those little everyday occurences that seamlessly bind the fabric of our stories together.

I look for Moments all over the place. I find them in unusual spots, outside, inside, in the car, etc. What is a Moment? Some of the following are Moments that I've discovered.

My friend, telling me about her three-and-a-half-year-old grandson leading his cousins and aunts and uncles in a parade around the house. The delighted child then heading to his room to make each and every one of them put on a hat and continue the parade.

My daughter, a teenager, grown up, mature, trying her wings with dignity and spirit, crossing the road on the way to the school bus, so that she can jump and play in a pile of leaves.

An aunt, the light in her mind dimming with age, brightening up to tell about the time in Switzerland when she stopped to pick the edelweiss flowers and a cow backed up and made a deposit in her lap.

My husband and I, each of us standing by our cars, on our way to work. He stops a Moment, the sun glinting on his hair, a smile is on his face for all the world to see and he tells me that he loves me one last time before he goes to work.

Did each of you get a sense of something wonderful? Did you feel the tug of memory and warmth? The light of love was in each Moment. Little special memories that each of us have, a snapshot in our heads that develops a whole story. A story of a few sentences, that can make a bridge between dialogue and scene. Use them. Not only will your story become more real to the reader, but you've put a little of your own history into it. Moments are everywhere. By observation, you can pick out Moments. Pay attention to the look of Moments. Don't just describe the action.

If you look at each of my Moments, you see a description of what that person is and will become. The child in charge, the teenager being a child, the aunt preserving a family story, the husband seen with love. These Moments make terrific devices to move a scene forward in a gentle way. Moments are not filler. They are the means in which your reader identifies with your character. Small means, but important to your reader's insight. Your reader, after all, is an observer, peeking into the lives of the people within your story. Look around. See if you can find Moments that you can use to enrich your story and that will bond your reader to that story until the very last word.

Newsletter Opportunity!

Hi Folks,

I think later today, Kara will be posting another if her wonderful blog post. In the meantime, I wanted let you know Rose Petals, The Official Newsletter From White Rose Publishing Authors is now available!

To receive your copy, please e-mail theresa@theresalynnhall.com with NEWSLETTER in the subject box.

Enjoy!

Keeping Faith Through Long Illnesses

Since December, my husband has had a serious illness. His bladder stopped functioning and he was admitted to the hospital with acute renal failure. I found myself in constant prayer. I wasn't ready to lose my husband.

Worse, I had retired from my full-time job and only afterward learned that my husband was not eligible to enter into Medicare Part B. What were we to do? I turned the burdens to God and He lifted us up. The VA accepted my husband under hardship due to the drastic change in our income since we would only have our social security to live on.

It took months of getting through all the necessary steps with various doctors to finally get my husband scheduled for surgery. The week prior to the scheduled surgery, we had to get clearance from his lung specialist and his heart doctor. The surgeon planned to operate by using a spinal block, and the specialists finally gave their approval. On March 29, my husband had surgery.

We learned on April 6, that the surgery was successful! Praise God!

Finally, after nearly four months of having to live with a catheter, my husband is healed. God is so gracious! He knew the outcome, and we just had to trust in Him, be faithful, and patient. He answered our prayers.

Our Pastor has been with us throughout this entire ordeal, visiting, calling and coming to the hospital to pray with us. On Tuesday, when I contacted him with the wonderful news, he shared these words of wisdom, which made us laugh. He said, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Thank God for humor and for His abiding love.

Carol Ann Erhardt
http://www.carolannerhardt.com/

Good Bye Winter, Hello Spring!


Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."


When our sons were very young, my mother would often say, "For every age the boys will hit, you'll find good things about it and some difficulties." And you know what--she was 100% right!

I find this is true for more than just developmental stages. It's true for life in general. When things seem dark and dismal, there is a blessing to be found even there. God invites us to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us. God is our Rock and Fortress, our stronghold in the time of trouble. He takes the winter of our hearts and warms us with His love, fresh and pure like the spring breeze.


Do you have any "spring" stories to share about how God has warmed your heart and where you've seen Him at work in your life?

The Throwaway and Overused Word List

Editors have a list of words they prefer not to see at all, prefer to see as little as possible, or prefer to be spelled or used only in certain ways. At White Rose, our current list is fluid, simply because sometimes, the wrong word can be used the right way.

A few of the throwaway phrases I tend to eye with suspicion, and then edit out (or not):

A lot of
To tell the truth
Going to go
Along with the fact
Of all people
Anything but
What on earth
In the first place
In order to
In particular
I’ve got to (and its buddies - We’ve got to, You’ve got to)


Overused words I tend to glare menacingly at and then edit out (or not):

Actually
Almost
Although
Because
Really
Still
Though
Usually
Like – often used in place of ‘as’


Spellings we agreed upon at WRP, despite American thesauruses (thesaurasii?):

OK

For the Christian Gothic Romance

Honour
Colour
Moustache
Neighbour
Rumour
Flavour


As with all things, writing and editing is subjective. Should the phrase or word be perfect for the sentence, or the character, I will leave it in. Such a phrase that often gets left in is “going to go.” When it is written as dialogue, it is natural in American speech. Used in a telling sentence, it’ll most likely be edited out. The ‘find’ function (under the edit tab) in MS Word can be quite useful in giving authors a chance to edit before turning in a submission.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Edmond Budry (1854-1932)





"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."
Luke 24:5 NRSV


Christ has risen indeed!

Happy Easter to All

Holy Week: Easter Sunday

"Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." (Matthew 28: 5-6)

He is risen! Alleluia! A Joy beyond all understanding is upon us. Christ lives!

Easter is the beginning of our new life with Christ. Let's renew our commitment to live a holy life. Let's create time for additional prayer where we can commune our Risen Lord. Let's ask the Risen Christ for courage and strength we need to become faithful witnesses to the World.

Holy Week: Holy Saturday

"We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life." (Romans 6: 4)

Today, the darkness of the tomb begins to be replaced with a growing joy and anticipation. Christ will soon rise to defeat death and to throw open the gates of Heaven.

Let's reflect for a few moments on the ways in which Christ has brought us out of our own personal dark moments and carried our weaknesses and fears, our troubles and doubts, into the light of a new day. Let's rejoice and give thanks to God for our wondrous salvation.

Snow Angels is now available!

Good Morning! Just a quick note to let you know my new romance, Snow Angels releases today! As an inspirational author, I'm thrilled to combine faith elements with a story about my favorite sport, snow skiing. Ever wonder what it would feel like like to fall in love with a handsome, daring and compassionate ski patroller? Isabelle Rollins knows what it's like. But, she's in for some surprises as her handsome rescuer has her tackling more obstacles than she imagined.

Here's the blurb:
A blizzard brings them together...
A twist of fate threatens to tear them apart.

Seeking her father's approval, ski patrol candidate, Isabelle Rollins, will stop at nothing to secure her place among the highly respected patrollers at Snowcap Resort, even if it means risking her life. When she becomes lost in a blizzard, she fights her way to the doorstep of a handsome stranger, only to discover he is the one man who can stand in the way of her dream.

Seeking refuge from his tragic past, Ski Patrol Director, Mitchell Donovan, prays his new environment will help his daughter heal and overcome her persistent nightmares. When a stranded woman shows up on his doorstep desperate to survive a raging blizzard, he brings her in from the cold and into his life, only to discover she's the one woman he has no business falling for.

Stop by http://www.wendydavy.com/ to check out an excerpt and view the book trailer, or go to http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/ for more info.

Thanks!!!
Wendy Davy
http://www.wendydavy.com/
~Adventures of the Heart ~

Holy Week: Good Friday

"But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all." (Isaiah 53:5-6)

3:00 PM. The blackest hour. Jesus has died. Innocent of all crime, He willingly went to the cross for one reason and one reason only--so that you might live. You. It's personal. If the only sin on earth was the white lie you told last week, He would have been born and suffered and died, so that you would not have to pay the wage for that sin: death.

Yes, this is a black day. We have crucified Christ with our sins. Let's try to keep an awareness of Our Lord's suffering in our hearts throughout the day, and at three o'clock, let's pause for a moment or two of silent meditation as a remembrance of Jesus breathing his last.

Holy Week: Holy Thursday

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28) 

On this night, Jesus celebrated the Passover seder with His disciples. An important day for all Christians--the day Christ tells us of the new and everlasting covenant. For Catholics, this holds an additional significance: The institution of the Eucharist, the "source and summit" of the faith, which is Christ's Body and Blood.

Let's reflect today on the blood of the new covenant. By His stripes we are healed. By His blood we are redeemed. By His resurrection, we are saved from death. As we walk into tomb with Him, we have a reason to celebrate!

Catholics, let's also ask for the graces we need to truly believe in Christ's presence in the Eucharist and to approach the altar with reverence and awe.