Monday, December 31, 2012

End of Year Recap ... and Wake-up Call

Some people hate making New Year's Resolutions because they feel like they'll never be able to reach everything they laid out for themselves. I enjoy making them because I want to see what I can accomplish in a year's time, and I don't set goals that are so far out of the stratosphere that I can never attain them. I set goals that are perfectly doable, with a little stretching - what's life for if you're not stretching? - and then I set monthly goals to help me reach those yearly goals. It's a pretty good system for how my brain works.

And of course, because it's New Year's, it's time for me to sit down and evaluate how I did.

My writing goals? Knocked that puppy out of the park! I completed each project I listed, and then a few more. There are two books here on my list that I did not get done, but those were held up by other people and aren't yet ready. I did my part on them, though, so I consider them a success. This was made possible in large part by the fact that I spent a lot of 2012 in bed, recovering from the December 2011 car accident and the March 2012 broken foot.

If you're interested, the books I produced in 2012 are:
Taking Out the Trash
Million Dollar Diva
Turning Pages 
Virtual Book Tours
Women of Strength
Targets in Ties 
The Writer's Workbook 
Word Count Tracker 
Dialogue Dynamics 
Creating Characters 
Taking Care of Business 
I also worked on a few more that will come out next year.

My personal goals? I did pretty well.  I didn't have "breaking my foot" down in my plans, so a few things did go a bit awry. Nothing like having a cast for a month and then recovering strength in the foot for two months to put a bit of a damper on things. But I did accomplish three of my goals and made good progress on two, leaving just one to wonder why it got left out in the cold.

My business goals? I did well here too. I met two of my goals and am still struggling to accomplish the third. But that third one will be vanquished come 2013. Mark my words! (I'll wait while you find a marker.)

My family goals? Ah ... this is where the wake-up call comes in. I did not accomplish one thing on this list. Granted, some things were just plain out of my control. But the things that were in my control ... didn't get done either.

What did I learn? I learned that when I put my mind to it, I can get a lot of writing done. I learned that car accidents and broken bones are not helpful to goals that require physical movement. I learned that laptops are wonderful things and that WiFi is like a miracle from on high. I also learned that we can't let less-than-ideal circumstances keep us from striving to improve in every aspect and not just some.

My motto for 2012 was: "2012 is my year - not because everything is going to go my way, but because I will face everything that does come with dignity and faith." Was this tested? Oh, holy cow, yes. A whole lot of stuff came our way. Did I face it all with dignity and faith? I have to say that in most respects, I impressed myself.  :)  There were definitely times when I dropped the ball and didn't react how I would have liked. By and large, though, I see real growth in myself.

And there you have it. Goals keep me moving forward, and they also serve to show me where I'm missing my mark. 2013 will be a year of no excuses - I know where I'm weak, I know where I need to improve, I know how I need to improve, and so now it's a matter of getting 'er done.

Happy New Year ... and may we all realize our dreams, accomplish our goals, and take huge steps toward becoming the people we want to be.


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Cover Reveal: The Emerald Ring


Author Dorine White asked me to help spread the word about the cover for her new book, The Emerald Ring. Isn't it gorgeous? Makes me want to dive right in.

This book will be released in May, and you can learn all about it here ... and maybe even preorder, which is always a fun thing to do.

Congratulations on this new release, Dorine, and on this really beautiful cover.


Monday, December 24, 2012

One of the Best Christmases Ever

When I was eighteen, I attended a single young adult ward - a place where other young members of The Church of Jesus Christ could meet, attend church, and flirt. Yeah, there was lots of flirting. Not officially - flirting isn't part of Church doctrine or anything - but it took place anyway, and several people from that ward ended up marrying each other. Including me and my husband. Anyway, that's not the point of this post.

My calling in the ward (volunteer service position) was the chairman of the humanitarian committee.  In a typical family ward, that job would include putting together meals for funerals, taking care of sick people, taking food in when there was a new baby, etc. In a single young adult ward where we didn't have those needs, we had to get a little creative to find ways to serve, and the Christmas of 1994 was one of the best Christmases I've ever had.

We decided that we wanted to do something really meaningful. I contacted the shelter for women and children in Provo and explained our desire to help. The lady there chose a family for us to sponsor and told us what they wanted for Christmas, and then I rounded up everyone in our ward who wanted to participate. We all pooled our money and then we broke into groups. One group was going to shop for the mother of the family, another group would shop for the older sister, etc. Then we all carpooled to the store to decide what to get.

A few things about this surprised me. First, I didn't expect the participation we'd get for the project. I thought some of the kids would give money, but I was really pleasantly surprised at how many wanted to go with to do the actual shopping - we had about twenty all told. Second, I was surprised at how enthusiastic everyone was, even the guys, who typically don't enjoy shopping. I heard comments like, "I wonder if she'd like this" and "My sister has one. I bet this girl would like it too." They were really putting their hearts into it.

I was on the team shopping for the baby. One of the most touching moments was over in the outerwear department. One of the guys picked up a pink-and-white knit hat with ear flaps. "She has to have this," he said. "Every baby needs ear flaps."

Then we got up to the cash register to check out. We had a budget and it wasn't huge -we were all poor. Some of us, like me, were working dead-end jobs, and others were going to college with meager means. As we placed our things on the belt, I noticed that every one of the teams had chosen things above and beyond their lists, and I knew we were going to go over. I suggested that they go through and think about what to put back.

"No way!" one guy said. "We're getting all of this." Everyone dug through their pockets again and came up with enough cash to cover the difference.

After that, it was time to take the gifts to their intended recipients. Because this particular shelter protects women and children from abusers, they don't allow anyone to come directly there - the location is a secret. I had been given the address of a meeting place in a highly public area, where we would give the items to the woman who coordinated donations for the shelter. I was once again surprised when everyone in the group said they wanted to come with me to drop the stuff off. I'd been involved in projects like this before with people who were more than happy to pawn the work off on others - not these guys. We all drove in tandem down to the meeting place, where the lady was delighted to receive what we'd brought.

"See the ear flaps?" The guy who'd chosen the hat pointed them out to her, and she was properly impressed.

When I look back on all the Christmases in my past (wow, I make that sound like I'm really old) I've had a lot of really amazing experiences. Times when I've been the giver, times when I've been the recipient. The spirit of Christmas is alive no matter what side of the equation you fall on. And I remember walking through a store with a whole crowd full of single young adults who just wanted to make Christmas bright for some scared little children and their mother, a hat with ear flaps, and a cart full of toys no one could bear to put away.

Merry Christmas to all my readers, and may the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts with the wonder of the season and joy in the celebration of Christ's birth. 

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Crooked Swan by Julie Helm - Giveaway and Guest Post



Hey, everyone!

Take a break from your Christmas shopping and enter to win a gift for yourself.


The first twenty readers who leave a comment and request a Kindle ebook will receive a free copy of The Crooked Swan by Julie Helm. Please leave the email where you would like your gift sent in the comments. Thank you.

 About the book:  What was Kayla thinking when she gave Narissa the solo in the Christmas recital? Caught in a world she thought she’d never be a part of, Kayla learns that what was given in a moment of frustration and pity cannot be taken back so easily…especially with Narissa. As Kayla recognizes within herself a great need to help Narissa dance, she discovers patience and forgiveness, and the beauty found within the soul of a little girl who is more angel than child…she discovers the healing power of love…and the joy found in truly caring for others.

Julie Helm speaks out about what inspired The Crooked Swan:

When I was a young girl I loved to dance. I’d lie in my bed at nights and imagine that I was the lead dancer in a world famous ballet company. My dreaming took me everywhere: On pointe shoes I danced into the waiting arms of a dreamy dance partner. He would lift me so high the stage lights forced me to close my eyes. It all felt so real. Leaping and whirling, moving gracefully on my toes, I danced until sleep claimed me and I could no longer think.

So I begged my mother for dance lessons. And though I danced my heart out in my classes, becoming a world-class dancer would never be part of my future. As I stretched and tried bending my young body into the limitless contortions my dance teacher tried teaching me, I realized that all I needed was to enjoy myself. Some bodies aren’t designed to be as limber as others. 

Dancing became a lot of fun. I met other dancers, from time to time, who were more coordinated and obviously more talented than me. Sometimes it was hard to watch them because I wanted to dance perfectly, too. But I kept dancing…because I knew that if my abilities were ever judged by what was in my heart…I would be the prima ballerina, the most graceful beautiful dancer of them all.

Years passed, and dancing was put aside to raise my family. One night while I was lying in my bed trying to find sleep…I thought again of a young imperfect girl who wanted to dance as gracefully as other dancers…and The Crooked Swan was born. Though the main character’s story is not my own, there are many situations in the book that related to me as a young dancer.

A beautiful dance, one that is orchestrated to perfection, is never just about what the body is capable of doing, even with God given abilities and talent. It’s the combination of both heart and ability that make the truly great dancers.

I invite you to read The Crooked Swan. You will not be the same afterwards. The story takes you on an unforgettable journey into the world of dance, so that we may all appreciate and love The Crooked Swans in our lives.

About the Author: Julie G. Helm grew up in Idaho, lived several years abroad, and has spent the last twenty-three years living in Utah. She has been writing stories for children, young adults, and adults as long as she can remember. At present she has three books on the market, The Crooked Swan, The Lost Monster Tales, and Merlin for Sherman. She has belonged to one of the top fantasy and science fiction writer's groups in the area, acted as the liaison for the BYU Writer's Conferences, and worked as an acquisitions editor for Gibbs Smith Publishers. She won first place in an area writer's conference judged by the late Roger Zelazney. Along with raising her six children with a devoted husband, Greg, she continues to write stories to delight and thrill all those who read her books.

For more about my wonderful adventures go to http://betweenthejackets.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 14, 2012

Book Review: Holidays for Kids by Charles Pascalar

Every year, I try to come up with some ideas for ways to make Christmas fun for our children. I want it to be more than just opening presents. Because we're Christians and we believe in celebrating Christmas with the true spirit of the season, I want to make this time of year memorable. 

This year I decided that we'd do something fun together as a family every single day all during December until Christmas. You can tell from my sidebar and our countdown to Christmas that I haven't been entirely successful. Some days, we've been too busy or too overscheduled to do an activity, but we're making progress.

But what about the other holidays of the year? Shouldn't they be extra fun and special too?

Holidays for Kids brings parents fun new ideas for how to make these events special. Here's the backliner from the book:

"Be the coolest parent in the neighborhood, maybe in the world. It’s all in this book and so easy.

Every child and adult looks forward to enjoying the next big holiday season with their friends and family. What if you could celebrate several of those holidays every month with your kids? Give them some fun days that no other children experience. Give them low or no cost holidays that build a stronger emotional connection with them. Make their friends, and yours, look at you with envy over celebrating things that no one ever thought about. In this book, you will learn the most important birthday for your child and cool new holidays like One Day Fun Day, May Day Play Day, Awesome August Adventure Day, January Journey, September Search, Pie Day, Slurpee Day, and over forty others. Plus, learn how to celebrate the more traditional holidays like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and President’s Day in fun new ways.

Learn bedtime and good-morning songs, how to educate your kids on things even teachers don’t know, and have your kids begging for more. This book took twelve years to develop all those cool things. It’s now available exclusively for you."


To be honest, I didn't even know some of these holidays existed. But that's the great thing about holidays - you can even make some up for your own family, like the day the parents got engaged or the anniversary of the day they bought their first house. You can create your own family culture and celebrate however you like. Holidays for Kids got me thinking about that. Kids love holidays and they love traditions. Your own family traditions make you cool, like you have your own family club. They're unifying and they create bonds. 

I also think that as parents, we sometimes get too busy to think much about celebrating life. Again, look at my sidebar - just this month so far, and it's only the 15th, we've had two stretches of time when we didn't do any activities because our schedules were just so crazy. We need to slow down, think about those moments that will never come again, and commemorate them. Kids grow up, they move away, and we'll miss these celebrations. Let's have more of them to fill up our memories.

It's the "My Mama Wrote a Book!" Contest

My mom is an interior designer, and for years, people have been asking her for help with their homes. Some of the questions seemed to come up over and over again, and she realized there might be the need for a book on the topic. You can get books on the basic elements of design, but what about a book that talks about using what you already have?

So this last year, she sat down and penned Uniquely You, which answers the questions she is most regularly asked. I edited it and helped put together her website, which is interactive with the book and shows you ideas for your own home.  The book was formatted and the cover designed by Andrea Pearson, and now we have a finished product!

To celebrate, we're throwing an online party. Here's a party hat and a noisemaker!  Okay, maybe not so much a party, but a contest. Here's how it works.

1.  Go here and become a follower. You can do this either by hitting the 'follow' button on the Google Friend Connect box, or signing up to receive updates - these are both on the left-hand side of the site.

2. Go here and click the little "like" box under the book's title.

3. Come back to this post and leave a comment, telling me that you've done both.

No purchase is necessary to enter, although ... if you did happen to want to pick one up, I'm certainly not going to stop you. The price is $3.99 for the ebook - purchase Kindle here and other forms of e-book here.

So, what's the prize?

Your own box of Kleenex! You're welcome!

No, wait ... I lie.

The winner will be chosen by Random.org, and they will receive ...

For Utah County residents, a half-hour in-home interior design consultation from Ruthe
Out of Utah County, a half-hour interior design consultation from Ruthe by telephone

Is that cool or what?

The deadline is midnight on December 21st.

Come help us celebrate, and win yourself some fresh perspectives on your home while you're at it!!




Monday, December 10, 2012

Book Review: Checkin' It Twice

Every year, LDS Publisher holds a Christmas story contest and asks her readers to submit. She then chooses her favorite story, which is awarded the Publisher's Choice, and readers of the blog can vote on their favorite story, which receives the Reader's Choice. I'm tickled to say that I won both Publisher's Choice and Reader's Choice in 2009, but that's not why I'm posting today (although it's always fun to brag).

LDS Publisher has teamed up with Rosehaven Publishing to produce books of the best Christmas stories submitted. You can read the book with my story in it by clicking here to purchase. (Oh, wait - was I bragging again? Sorry ...)


This year's volume is called Checkin' It Twice, and it is filled with delightful stories that will definitely bring the Christmas spirit into your home. You can read the stories one a day or read the entire book in one sitting. You can share the stories with your family, all curled up with hot cocoa while wearing your fuzzy socks. And because LDS Publisher selected these stories, you'll be assured that they are high-quality reads.

Because it's Christmas, I have some additional information to share that will make the holiday even more merry.

You can purchase the book here.

If you make the purchase before December 15th, you get some really awesome free stuff. Click here to learn more about that.

And ... and ... I'm giving away one e-book copy free on this blog. Well, I'm not giving it away - LDS Publisher is donating it. Isn't that great?  All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog and tell me your favorite Christmas memory. You will then be entered for a drawing. You can enter once, and be sure to do it by midnight on December 15th.

Bring some extra holiday cheer into your home this season with Checkin' It Twice!




Saturday, December 08, 2012

The Huber Hill Series by B.K. Bostick




When his grandfather dies, Huber Hill is devastated---until he opens Grandpa Nick's mysterious box. An old gold coin and directions to a hidden Spanish treasure send him and his friends off on an mind-blowing adventure, but he's not the only one on the hunt. Filled with dangerous animals and cryptic puzzles, this book will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Purchase book here.



The Dead Man’s Treasure has been stolen! When Huber receives a revelatory message from a girl in Spain regarding the treasure’s location, the gang hatches a plan. Convincing their parents they are part of a study abroad program, Huber, Scott, and Hannah travel to Salamanca, Spain- an old city full of secrets.
While in pursuit of their goal, the group becomes dangerously entwined with a secret society called the Brotherhood of Coronado- a ruthless organization led by three self proclaimed kings, bent on reacquiring the lost fortunes of the Spanish empire for nefarious purposes.

Their only hope of finding the stolen treasure and escaping the city with their lives requires trust in new found friends and in a cloaked figure who reveals clues leading to the Brotherhood’s hiding place. But in a city of strangers, who can you trust?  Purchase the book here.

And you should absolutely check out the author's website - this is one of the coolest websites I've ever seen. 

Thursday, December 06, 2012

A Woman's Power by Fay A. Klingler



In today’s chaotic world, many women feel like they’re hanging on by a single, fraying thread. But as daughters of God, we’re blessed with lifelines from above. All we have to do is reach up and grab hold of them.

A Woman’s Power, from beloved author Fay A. Klingler, simply and beautifully illustrates which threads have the strength and power to carry women of virtue to safety, peace, and lasting happiness. Perfect for women everywhere, this inspiring work will help you hold fast to the divinity within you as you learn just how powerful a faithful woman can be.




“Fay Klingler is not only well-grounded in the gospel, but
her stories, quotes, and wisdom offer hope and help to make our
lives more deeply meaningful.”
—Linda Eyre, Author of the #1 New York Times
bestseller Teaching Your Children Values

“For someone seeking tried and true solutions to real-life
problems, your answers could very well lie within the pages of
A Woman’s Power: Threads that Bind Us to God. Fay has accurately
captured the essence of our potential as women and has carefully
and expertly guided us to discover that power within ourselves.”
—Marcia Z. Ford, Former National President
of American Mothers, Inc.

“Inspiring and uplifting, this book offers warm encouragement,
positive spiritual solutions, and fresh, enlightening
insights into eternal truths.”
—Carolyn Campbell, Award-winning author,
Reunited: True Stories of Long-Lost Siblings Who Find Each Other Again

“The principles taught in this book are true and powerful.
When they are exercised in each individual’s life, she will feel a
greater peace and a greater capacity to confront life’s challenges
and strengthen her relationship with God. Fay Klingler illustrates
these principles through interesting stories and scripture
that will capture your attention and bring them to life. I highly
recommend this motivational read.”
—Kimberly Toronto,
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

“Anyone seeking insight, hope, and a deeper understanding
of who she is and the power that is within her will value this
book. Thank you, Fay Klingler, for being an instrument in the
Lord’s hands.”
—Diane M. Stuart, former Director of the Office on Violence
Against Women in the US Department of Justice

“This book encourages all women to thoughtfully ponder the
opportunity to build a powerful and more trusting relationship
with our Father in Heaven, and to follow specific steps to confirm
our identity as Daughters of God, with inherent rights to personal
safety and the ability to embrace life with confidence and joy.”
—Merilyn H. Wright, MS,
Licensed Professional Counselor

“As a 37-year practicing marriage and family therapist,
I fully anticipated from the preliminary title of this book—
Threads of Power and Safety—to read instruction for women on
being empowered and safe from the control of men. But it has
nothing to do with the negatives of life. It is all about being
in the cradle of the Lord’s arms through righteous living, but
living in a practical, simplistic, and attainable way. . . . Fay does
a marvelous job in giving women patterns for life, a tapestry of
threads for safety and power.”
—Dr. J. Kent Griffiths, Doctor of Social Work, Licensed Clinical
Social Worker, & Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Fay Klingler . . . gives both women and men great spiritual
insights as to how we can cope with our mortal challenges. Her
use of inspirational stories and quotes helps give guidance and
practical application of the principles she teaches. “With God’s
assistance we cannot fail.” She tells us how and why.
—Cynthia Terry,
Church Building Hosting Director

True principles, illustrated with real life examples, that is the
way to truly teach. Fay Klingler’s book, A Woman’s Power: Threads
that Bind Us to God, is filled with inspiring quotes, stories, and
examples that will inspire women to more closely include the
Lord as part of their lives. As I read, I was making connections
to my own life story and relationship with my Heavenly Father
and motivated to strengthen my ties with Him.
—Macy Robison, Creator & Performer,
Children Will Listen: Reflections on Motherhood

As I read A Woman’s Power: Threads that Bind Us to God,
I was pleased to find the answers to life’s problems come from
our understanding of who we are and how we respond to that
knowledge. Fay Klingler’s testimony throughout the book
speaks of the power we have to take charge of our lives and the
power we have to respond to what we have no control over. This
book definitely has my endorsement!
—Toni Fabrizio, Former Church Building Hosting Director

As the bishop of a Young Single Adult ward, I see, interview,
and associate with beautiful young women on a regular
basis. In this chaotic world these women are challenged on every
side. . . . Fay Klingler’s book, A Woman’s Power: Threads that
Bind Us to God, is just the kind of book these young women need
for strength to get through the day, the week, their lives. I’d like
a stack of her books to hand out to each of my lovely sisters—the
ones who are succeeding as well as the ones who struggle.
Thank you, Sister Klingler. Your wise words will help a
great many women.
—Bishop Curtis F. Dickerson


Author and illustrator Fay A. Klingler is an award-winning creative and technical writer. Her most recent book release—A Woman’s Power: Threads that Bind Us to God—can be purchased at Amazon and all LDS retail outlets.

An often sought-after motivational speaker for women's groups and radio and television audiences, Fay thoroughly enjoys her family, speaking and writing, sewing, gardening, hiking, and camping. Together, the Klinglers have twelve children and thirty-five grandchildren in their blended family. They reside in Draper, Utah. Fay loves to hear from her readers. You can send her an e-mail at fay@klingler.com, or visit her website (www.fayklingler.com) or facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FayKlingler).

Monday, December 03, 2012

Book Review: Texting Through Time: John Taylor and the Mystery Puzzle by Christy Monson


I was a little late to get in on the official blog tour, but I'm delighted nonetheless to review Christy Monson's second book in the Texting Through Time series - John Taylor and the Mystery Puzzle. I didn't read the first book about Brigham Young, so this was my first introduction to the concept.

Micah and Alicia are two children who love the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On their first journey, they visited Brigham Young with the aid of their father's experimental time-travel phone, and in this book, they are eager to continue to learn more about the prophets of the Church.

While sweating in the summer heat, Micah years to go someplace cooler, and hits upon the idea of visiting John Taylor in England. Their father wants to come with them as they utilize his phone, but he is left behind as the children are sucked into the void that spits them out in England at the time of John Taylor. The children first meet him when he is a boy himself, but the phone causes them to jump forward and see John at different stages in his life and as he becomes a preacher and then the prophet.

Every so often, the phone asks them to text their journals home, and the children take a moment to summarize what's been happening.

I won't go too deeply into the plot because I want you to read the book for yourself, but here's a basic summary.

I liked this book to the Magic Treehouse series, only for a slightly older audience and with an LDS theme. In the Magic Treehouse, we have two children who are able to travel in time and learn things along the way, much like Micah and Alicia. Both sets of children become annoyed with each other from time to time, because that's what brothers and sisters do, but also as brothers and sisters do, they support each other and are there for each other when the chips are down.

I thought it was a very clever inclusion for the phone to ask them to text their journals home. This gives the character the chance to contemplate and summarize the plot and the lessons learned, and this in turn gives the reader a chance to rehearse the most salient points of the story.

I liked the way modern technology tied in to learning about history, creating a bridge between today's more tech-savvy kid and an era that otherwise might not interest them.

I also liked learning facts about John Taylor that I hadn't heard before, such as, he was a minister at the age of seventeen. That's pretty impressive.

I believe that middle-grade readers will enjoy this series for the adventurous aspects and parents will enjoy it for the gospel teachings and familiarity their children will get with the prophets. It's a good blending of the things a kid wants and the things a parent wants for their child to read.

If you have middle-grade children or grandchildren, you just might look into these books for Christmas.

You can purchase A Trek with Brigham Young here and John Taylor and the Mystery Puzzle here.

New Book Release - Twelve Months by Steven Manchester



Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full. A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, Twelve Months is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.
Author Bio:  Steven Manchester is the published author of Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy and Jacob Evans,as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN’sAmerican Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of his short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

You can purchase Twelve Months here

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Guest Blogger: Janet K. Halling on Her Favorite Character


                It’s funny how a character can reach out and grab you. Sometimes the character you end up liking the most isn’t even the main one, not that protagonist into whom you have sunk so much time and effort. You have mapped out their story, their journey, their lessons and then suddenly...a different character pops up and steals your heart.
                Don’t get me wrong, I really like Ella. She is like me in a lot of ways and unlike me in a lot of other ways. I admire her determination and her drive, I cry over her heartbreak and her struggles, and I roll my eyes at her stubborn streak that is oh so familiar!
                But Matthew is my favorite. And he wasn’t even supposed to be in the book.
                Matthew Searle is a U.S. marine, stationed on Guadalcanal in 1942. It had been a year since Pearl Harbor and he joined the marines because he was itching for a fight. The Japanese had scored a big victory with the Pearl Harbor attack, but Matthew and his buddies were going to make sure payback was swift and brutal.
                But WWII was supposed to be the Civil War in An Unexpected Angel and I had selected Antietam, a battle fought in September 1862 for the scene. Matthew wasn’t named Matthew then, he was Elias and he was much older and much more grizzled than Matthew.
                When it became obvious the scene wasn’t working, I knew I needed to move the battle. A Civil War soldier is very different from a WWII marine, so Elias had to go and Matthew took his place. Right from the start I really liked him, but it wasn’t until I found this picture from the Library of Congress that he really started to take shape. The photo is of a real WWII soldier. He is very young, absolutely filthy, and completely exhausted. More than anything, he wants to go home. But there is an unmistakable look of determination and raw courage in his eyes. I don’t know the real soldier’s name, but to me, he is Matthew.
                This year marks the 70th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal. Marines like Matthew were on the island 70 years ago today and many of them spent Christmas there. Matthew’s scene in An Unexpected Angel is my small way to remember them and say thank you.

***
You can learn more about Janet by clicking here to visit her website and here to purchase her book, An Unexpected Angel. 


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