The Story Behind the Story of Risk Management     

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  Peru. Its people call me back. Which is why I set Carly’s finale book in Peru. As a tribute to her, because she kept calling me back, to write yet another story about her. The first time I visited Peru, I learned about hidden temples and jungle monsters. I thought, “Carly could have a mystery here.” Peru was the perfect backdrop to Carly’s finale book as she made decisions about her future. Forced by health issues to slow down, pushed into a corner until she made a choice about the direction and the content of her faith life, Carly…

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Discovering The Rabbit in the Moon

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We welcome Linda Rooks and thank her for today’s wonderful fascinating fact! Did you know there is a rabbit in the shadows of the moon? In the United States we often talk about a man in the moon, but in other parts of the world—especially Asia—people talk about the rabbit they see in the moon. In fact, centuries ago, storytellers in the East not only observed a rabbit on the left side of the moon but made up legends about him. In countries like India, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico and others, legends abound about the brave rabbit whose sacrificial courage…

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Reflections From the Road

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My recent retirement prompted a personal move from Illinois to my home state of Wisconsin—which meant my awesome nine-year-old quarter horse mare and I also moved to a new barn and horse trainer. All of these changes resulted in prepping, practicing, and praying for success on a brand-new horse show circuit this year. We agreed to an aggressive schedule of shows that would take us from Wisconsin to Oklahoma City for our first event; onto Las Vegas for our second show—The Silver Dollar Circuit—and then to Scottsdale, AZ for our final event, the Sun Circuit. This was my first series…

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SKEE BALL, PIZZA FIGHTS, AND FUN!

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I had been dating Roy for a while, and he decided the time had come for me to meet his children, Jill and James. Very apprehensive but knowing this was the essential next step, I flew down from New Jersey to Atlanta with him. You wouldn’t think a six-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy could terrify a thirty-plus-year-old woman, would you? I’d never been around children much, other than an occasional babysitting job while I was in high school. And having the approval of these two kids meant everything. We went to Chuckie Cheese for the afternoon and for dinner….

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Double Jeopardy – Why This Story Will Change You as a Reader

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By Donna Schlachter When I think about books from my childhood, I recall books like Black Beauty and Call of the Wild. What really sticks with me is both told stories of heartbreak and joy, of separation and reunion, or defeat and victory. Throughout these two books in particular, bad things happened for no good reason. People got sick. Died. Animals were mistreated. Lives were shattered. But then. . . In the end, all was set right with their world. When I sit down to write a book, I ask myself, “How bad can things get?” And then I put…

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Tips from the Pros: Cara Putman

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin! I’ve just come home from the fabulous Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, and now it’s back to work. But today’s work is fun! I get to interview a very special friend, novelist Cara Putman. Cara shares my love for World War II, and we were co-authors for Where Treetops Glisten. She also puts her background as a lawyer to use in mysteries and in her latest novel, Beyond Justice, a gripping legal thriller. Cara, how many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? I currently have 25 books out or…

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Tips from the Pros: Ane Mulligan

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing novelist Ane Mulligan, one of our newest CAN members, but a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers—and the recipient of ACFW’s first Volunteer Service Award. Ane brings a lot of energy and humor wherever she goes, and we’re thrilled to have her in CAN. You’ll enjoy what she has to share today. Ane, how did you get into writing? I’d quit my job as an office manager and my husband said, “Don’t look for another job. Write a book.” I was a published playwright but novelist?…

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Tips from the Pros: Pamela S. Meyers

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Greetings from rainy California! With Valentine’s Day around the bend, it’s the perfect time to feature Pamela S. Meyers, author of contemporary and historical romances! I’ve met Pam at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference, and she’s delightful. She’s full of creative promotional ideas, so read on! How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? Five titles altogether, including Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (my hometown), What Lies Ahead, a novella in a four-author novella collection called The Bucket List Dare, and my newest one, Second Chance Love.

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Tips from the Pros: Ellen E. Kennedy

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the privilege of interviewing cozy mystery author Ellen E. Kennedy—who often goes by her very appropriate initials—EEK! All of us grammar lovers will enjoy her clever titles. Ellen, how many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? Four, plus “The Applesauce War,” a Christian romance novella in the Barbour Books anthology, The Farmer’s Bride. My latest titles are Murder in the Past Tense (2014) and Incomplete Sentence (2016) in the Miss Prentice Cozy Mystery series.

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Tips from the Pros: Roseanna M. White

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Greetings from Sarah Sundin in California! Today I have the joy of interviewing historical novelist Roseanna M. White. I’ve enjoyed chatting with Roseanna at writing conferences and online, and I know you’ll enjoy hearing from her! Roseanna, how many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles? The Reluctant Duchess is my eleventh published title, following The Lost Heiress in the Ladies of the Manor Series from Bethany House. In September the series will finish with A Lady Unrivaled, and I also have a biblical-era Christmas story coming out the first of November, called Giver…

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