Afternoon Connection

Hey guys. It's afternoon time here...later than I normally post. Today is Columbus day. How many years ago was our nation discovered? I believe it was in 1462. All I can say is, God bless America...and I'm proud to be an American. For those of you who get the day off, I hope you are enjoying it.

A few minutes ago Scott, my husband, put together a laptop stand so I can sit in the living room or out on the deck and have a steady place for my lap top to go. I love it. It was a gift from our cousins in Cincinnati OH. We took a short vacation up there and enjoyed every minute of it. Hey Cathey and Barry (if you're reading this).

I came back to a wonderful surprise. As you all know, Testimony of Innocence book 2 of The Samantha Cain Series released in September. My publisher, OakTara, told me they would try to have Crime in The Big Easy ready in time for the Louisiana Book Festival on October 27, 2012. They did. The box I ordered for me was delivered my first day back. I LOVE IT!! Don't get me wrong. I love all of my stories I've been blessed to write, but Crime in The Big Easy and Hidden Secrets (not published yet) are my two favorite books I've written. I believe I have a special attachment to Crime in The Big Easy because it was my first suspense with a little romance. I was tickled pink when Ramona Tucker said they wanted to publish it. Not only is it an awesome story (I believe), I love my characters. They were probably the first ones who came to life as I was writing. This, by the way, was my 7th book written out of the many I have completed and started as of today. Wait till you get it. I hope you love it as much as I do. Check out the front and back cover of my new book...I tried to download the back and front cover and like on face book, it wouldn't work. I'll have to check into that. SO...I'll down load the cover.

Here is a quick reminder -- On October 20th, I'll be at Barnes & Noble in Mandeville from 2p.m. until 4p.m. If you live in that area, come see me. This signing is for Book 2 -- Testimony of Innocence that was released September 2012. They also have my other 4 books (Be Not Afraid, Book 1 of The Samantha Cain Mysteries, Passion from the Heart, All in God's Time, & Grace a Gift of Love. Crime in The Big Easy wasn't ready in time...not that we ever thought it would be. Anyway, I hope you in the area will come on down to the store. I love to visit with my readers and I'd love to meet you face-to-face. Here is the front and back view of Testimony of Innocence, book 2 of The Samantha Cain Mysteries. I love Samantha and her life...I hope you do too.

The Louisiana Book Festival will be October 27th in Baton Rouge, downtown by the Capital and The LA State Library. I have a booth, so watch for me.

I think I figured out the problem as to why I couldn't download the full cover. I'm going to try again. Here goes:

It worked. What's that old saying..."when all else fails, read the instructions." I needed to download it as a JPEG not a PDF. That's probably why I couldn't do it on FaceBook. Oh well. It's hear now. I hope you can get it big enough to read about Taylor Jaymes.

Also, my daughter in California let me know I was wrong on the date. It was 1692. Sorry. History and Geography were not my best subjects...and I've been out of school for some time.

Take care and God bless you. I hope to see you soon.

deb

Good Morning Sunshine

Hello everyone. If you woke to the same thing I did this morning, the sun wasn't shining. I stepped out on the deck, and I sensed the freshness. God had cleaned the earth (at least my little part of it) yesterday and again this morning. Check out my flowers. They are loving it!

See what a glorious job the sweet rain did for my flowers and plants. My husband and God take care of them. Anyone who knows me know I destroy plants. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to. The second picture usually has the Gerber daisies mixed with other flowers that the seeds have been dropped by birds or transported by the wind. Those little blue flowers (look close up - they are gorgeous) only open in the morning. Also I was told its a morning glory weed...but man what a beautiful weed. We decided to keep letting them grow. When the Gerber daisies (yellow, red, and mixed), the purple impatience (I think) and the little red flowers bloom all at once, talk about a beautiful bouquet. Anyway, this morning I enjoyed going out on the deck after the rain. The sunshine I talked about in the title was you all who are reading my blog. Good morning.

Things are happening in my life. As I showed you the sneak peak of my new book Testimony of Innocence, it is now out. There was a little glitch with amazon.com and amazonkindle.com when it was first released and Ingram for bookstores to order through. The book side was fixed enough for some people to order the hard copy, but for the ebook they were still working on it. All will be fine soon. (In the meantime and as always you can order it straight from OakTara's bookstore and get a 15% discount on any OakTara book--50% if you're a bookclub, school, bookstore, or library ordering 10 or more) My regular saying for all will be fine soon is, "all in God's time." I love that saying so much it was the title for one of my books, or maybe that's when it became my favorite saying. Who knows? Anyway, I was spotlighted on OakTara's website. Check it out. I think it's still there today. Deborah Lynne's page at OakTara  (I just looked. They are spotlighting another author today (which is great for him). Sorry. I knew it was for a few days only. So I changed the link to my page on the OakTara website. They mention I have 3 other books besides the 2 with them, but only give 2 titles. The one not mentioned is Passion from the Heart. You can buy it at a LifeWay near you. Too see all my books, go to my website. Click Here. On the website, browse through it all. I think you'll like it. And you know, I'd appreciate you "liking" it there and on facebook as well as sharing me with your friends. Also once you've read one of my books, feel free to send me a review through "contact" and I'll post it on my website. (bad or good, but hopefully it will be good) :)

Let's talk about upcoming events. Those too are listed on my website, with more to come. 

THIS SATURDAY, 9/22/12 the is a FREE all-day workshop at the Denham Springs/Walker Library. More info on my website, check it out--There will be several authors sharing information on several subjects. Aspiring authors don't want to miss it. Authors who are already published may learn more. I know I will. I feel as a writer we should never stop growing. So come on down. Register today. Phone number on my website under EVENTS.

9/27/12 - The Bible and Book Center on Government (in Baton Rouge) will be hosting my first book signing for my newest book, Testimony of Innocence. They always have so much to chose from in way of nice gifts for weddings, birthdays, just because you want to be nice to someone, and any other occasion you can think of. I got the coolest brown/pink LSU flip-flops this summer. (oops, a gift for me) Their store is fun to shop in...and to meet local authors. Janet (co-owner) is very friendly and loves to promote us...we love her. (I love them all!) Details also listed on my website.

10/20/12 - Barnes and Noble in Mandeville has a book signing planned for me. Details for that...again on my website. Their bookstore may be a part of a huge conglomerate but the people who work there are pure southern sweetness. They are so hospitable. Everyone makes you feel so welcome and part of their family. I love visiting there when I'm in the area.

THE LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL - is coming this year on 10/27/12. I have a booth with another author, Allyn Stotz. She writes children's books. We are planning to have a drawing after the festival. Every person who purchases our books, their names will go in to this drawing...one for every book they purchase.  So the more you buy, the bigger chance you have of winning. The winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card. I love the festival every year (except 2010 when we didn't have it). It's right there on the grounds of the capital and the streets of downtown near the Louisiana State Library. A true southern site. It may be cold in October in some areas of the U.S. but down here fall usually is perfect weather...a brisk breeze in the air, leaves turning colors, people walking around in sweatshirts or sweaters, but nothing too heavy. (sometimes we still wear shorts, that depends on how cool, cool is). Anyway, I hope to see you all there. So many authors from Louisiana will be there. It's your chance to meet them all. Details are on my website.

Well I've been talking...or should I say typing for over an hour. I need to work on my talk for Saturday. This time I'm speaking on writing mystery and suspense. I hope you'll come see me there.

Take care and everyone have a blessed day.

deb

There is a storm a brewing!

Hello all.

Tropical Storm Isaac is still moving in the gulf. News people expect it to hit land at the southeast tip of our great state of Louisiana. We in Baton Rouge have a relatively quiet morning with a steady gentle breeze blowing outdoors. Squalls expected to increase by late afternoon or early evening with even a few power outages possible. Tomorrow will be prolonged winds and hurricane gusts with heavy rains. So people in our area make sure you do your running around this morning...then go home and stay safe. Everyone pray for the people of New Orleans and surrounding areas. They've seen much worse so I'm sure they are making great preparations. By the traffic slowly moving north and westbound through Baton Rouge yesterday we believe a lot of NO citizens evacuated. And the people who use these things as opportunities to do destructive things and/or line their own pockets--SHAME ON YOU.

This storm too, shall pass. So everyone just keep your eyes on the Lord and let the Holy Spirit lead you to make the right moves and stays.

OKAY everyone. Good news! An update on Testimony of Innocence, book 2 of the Samantha Cain series. I got the proofs yesterday afternoon, well evening, when we got home and I pulled up my email. So I started working on them and will be getting back to them this morning. I thought I'd shoot a new blog out to update all.

sneak peak at the cover:

Also my publisher, Ramona Tucker, asked me to send her my next manuscript, Lean on Me. As I told you before, I finished it up a few weeks ago and was ready to send when/if she requested it. Praise God, she did and with today's electronic mail it's already in Chicago.

Boy do I remember the days of the postal mail. After working 6 months to a year on a manuscript (and of course no computer so it was typed on a Selectric typewriter until no more errors could be found) you bound it with a huge clip (after making a copy), dropped it at the post office, and then went home and waited, and waited, and waited. Six months later you'd get your reply. In the beginning for me, all were rejections but with encouraging words. I can only recall one that was a note so short and generic, they could have put it on a sticky note. Well those encouraging words kept me moving forward and I thank God for always having the right person at the right time in my path. So you writers working on a novel or a poem, don't give up. Keep writing, keep submitting, keep dreaming and one day it will come true if you hold on to it and push forward.

Attention writers who read my blog -- Coming September 22 a free all-day writer's workshop will be held at the Denham Springs/Walker Library. This workshop will start at 10 AM and run till 4 PM. Published authors will be speaking on the following subjects to help writers waiting to get their first book published and published authors fine tune and grow their work in progress. (which I believe should fit all of us...as a writer we should never stop growing)...

          SCREENWRITING
          SCI-FI -- FANTASY -- HORROR
          MEMOIR
          POETRY
          ADULT INSPIRATIONAL
          WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING FOR CHILDREN
          MYSTERY & ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
          TECHNICAL WRITING

Authors speaking on these subjects are Randell Nall, Kathy Mayeaux, Katie Wainwright, Catherine Cliffor, Gladys Ford, Michael Verrett, Deborah Lynne, & Steve Brunet. We hope to see all of you there.

Now I'm going to sign off. Remember the storm and know it too will pass. Keep pressing forward.

Love y'all.

deb
       

What does the future hold?

Today starts a new beginning. I'm waiting (the hardest thing for a writer to do) for my next book to hit the stands. It should be out soon. The title I gave this blog, What does the future hold?, is a question that always hangs over our heads. We can't worry about it. We, as believers, know our future is in God's hands. The main thing is for us to stay on the path He has chosen for us. I know that this is what He's called me to do. Oak Tara, my publisher, will be releasing book 2 of The Samantha Cain Mysteries soon. The title is Testimony of Innocence. I have a stand alone ready to send to my publisher, Ramona Tucker. She's the best. After meeting her in March I know God's placed me in good hands. Waiting is still hard...but everything takes time...and I know ALL is in God's time. (for those of you who haven't read my earlier books, All in God's Time is the title of my second book released in 2009).

The past few months have been an emotional roller coaster. My mother-in-law passed away 6/30. People in the church called her Sister Twirly bird or Sister Spinner. The Spirit would take over her and she would spin in circles. A normal person on their own power would be so dizzy after the spinning, but not her cause she wasn't doing it on her own. It was her way of giving God the glory. Some didn't believe in showing reference this way. To each his own. Now she's spinning in heaven. In September she would have turned 89. What a great life God gave her. She lived it to the full. Died of old age. A beautiful woman -- inside and out.

Well, I'm off on my future again: Testimony of Innocence, about to come out; Lean on Me (working title) waiting to send in; and I'm working on book 3 of TSCM - Truth Revealed. Go walk in your future. Talk to you soon!!

Good morning, everyone.

I write with mixed emotions this morning. My mother-in-law, known to a lot of people as Sister Twirly-bird or Sister Spinner, appears to be in her last days. I rejoice because I know as soon as her body dies, her spirit will be in Heaven. AND she'll be up on her feet dancing before the Lord. Praise God!! But right now she is in a very weakened state. Body strength has left her and it takes all she has to open her beautiful crystal blue eyes. Yesterday when she wanted to get up and run around but couldn't, and her body was fighting the disability, nothing could settle her...not even the strong meds she has to do just that. Then her granddaughter had a great idea. Praise music was turned on playing softly in the background, and her body settled. The peace that filled her room was amazing. The great news is we know where she'll be when this 89-year-old body shuts down for good...In Heaven with the Lord. Praise God.

Those of you who mourned with me when my daughter miscarried several months ago can leap for joy again. She is with child. When the doctors confirmed this for her and her husband, she was four weeks along. We are all doing cartwheels. Even Mrs. Craft got the news before she became so out of it and was joyed by the blessing.

In my writing, I'm still holding my breath. Testimony of Innocence is scheduled for release July 15th and I hope it's moving along nicely. Lean on Me, my next book I'm sending to Oak Tara, a stand-alone romantic suspense, is close to being ready. I am so blessed to have two fantastic critique partners as well as two sweet friends who are helping me find and correct all the errors. Those of you who write can attest to what I say when I tell you, when we read our own work we read it as we meant to write it and errors don't jump out at us. Thank God for friends who love us and critique for us. Also I'm working on book 3 of the series, The Truth Revealed.

I hope all is going well for everyone. Remember we all have a calling whether it is writing, singing, teaching, engineering, or whatever, follow your call and give it your all. Where He leads you He'll see you through. I know He's blessing me each and every day.

Take care and God bless you all.

I have a booksigning at Bible and Book Center on Government St this Saturday from 10AM-2PM. For more details check out my website...www.author-deborahlynne.com .

Good morning everyone. It has been a while and I'm so sorry. I hope you all are doing very well.

I'll start this blog with some updates. First let me say, Scott's cancer is still gone. Praise God! And although the lung specialist told him with both lungs he is at about 50%, they saw improvement at his last visit. Sure, he still can't stay active non-stop like he used to (before his lung collapsed), but he can do things now (at a slower pace & with breaks in between) that he couldn't do a year ago. One example is cut grass. What would take most people an hour or less he does in about 4-5 hours (and he won't let me help at all!). He takes breaks throughout, plus keeps his oxygen at hand. (That alone is a big milestone. He's finally realized it helps him so much. Before in his mind I believe it made him look weak. He's not weak, he's got a lung problem...but it's nothing to keep him sitting or lying down 24/7. So, everyone, my first update is wonderful news. Scott is doing very well and still as handsome as ever!! In fact, better looking if I do say so myself. He's gone from 119 pounds to 156. After 40 years of marriage he went from a 30 waist to a 31/32 and looks FANTASTIC!

My next update will be about my weight loss. 38 pounds gone. Yes. I'm so thrilled. And not only have a lost 38 pounds of fat, but with the exercise I'm doing I'm losing inches as well. I feel better and know that I look better. People, don't ever let your weight take control of you. Food is something you need to survive, but Praise God we don't have to eat it all at one sitting. You control what and how much you put in your mouth. And if you REALLY want that chilly cheese dog, or pizza, eat it...but make sure you get to walking it off (calories that is) or spinning it off, or even squatting it off. Every movement you make helps burn the food you take in. If you find yourself sitting a lot, change that. Stand up. Move. It's the balance of all that, that will help you take it off and/or keep it off.

Family, even though the kids are grown and gone, will always be a part of your life...should always be a part of your life. I'm blessed to have three fantastic kids who still love their mom and dad. They stay connected to us and we them. For the update on Rachael, Molly, & Chris -- they are all doing very well. So are their families...Pete, Scotty, Koby, & Rosie. We love them all and thank God every day for them.

Now, a very important update from me, Deborah Lynne, the author. My new book, Testimony of Innocence - Book 2 of The Samantha Cain Mysteries, will be released next month, July 15th scheduled date. I'm still waiting to see a copy of the cover so it can be added to my website. It's going to be great, I know. Look at my first one with OakTara. The book trailer is being designed for Testimony of Innocence. I'm almost finished with my next stand-alone novel...Lean on Me. My fantastic publisher, Ramona Tucker, believes in me. She loves my voice. (These are things all writers want/dream to have. Thank you Lord for mine.) OakTara is interested in releasing one of my series novels and 1 of my stand-alones a year. I'm thrilled and look forward a long and thriving relationship with them that God has formed for me.  Book signings are being set up starting in August. As soon as several are confirmed we'll be putting them in the computer. Right now one of the Barnes & Nobles is set for August 11th. A couple others are going to get back with me with the dates...and a few more I'm waiting to call so I don't double book this year like I did before. That gets a little hard.

Scott and I have settled in to our new home. Six months now. Can you believe it? The geese don't come all the time anymore. In fact, they've been gone for over a month and then day before yesterday six came back and then four yesterday. I hear them outside now, but I haven't looked yet. I've drunk two cups of coffee, read The Word, prayed, enjoyed the peace and then felt lead to write a new blog. I hope the next one won't be several months from now. I want to write at least once a month.

Take care all of you, Keep up with me at my web site www.author-deborahlynne.com. Like me on my facebook, on my website...and if you do like my novels share them with your friends or tell them about me. If you are a writer of Inspirational Fiction or Inspirational Non-Fiction, you might want to talk to Oak Tara. They are a growing publishing house. I love that they truly believe in God, in the power of Jesus His Son. They walk and live out their faith. Have a fantastic summer and stay safe. God bless you all.

deb