Finalist in the NTRWA

I got the news this week that The Last Truth made the finals of The Carolyn. I'm excited.

Spring flowers and Summer books

Snow was on the ground last week, but the flowers ignored it.

And this is book 2 of my series of Rodeo Heroes which will be out in June 2015.  I'm turning in book 3, which is Sawyer's story next week.

A Different Place

 Yesterday I blogged at Love Inspired Authors - www.loveinspiredauthors.com

Daffodils

My daffodils are up and saying Spring is coming.

70 Years

70 years ago today, Russian troops liberated Auschwitz. In our local newspaper, a survivor was on the front page. Marta was 10 years old when she was liberated.

When I was writing The Last Truth, my heroine's family was sent to different camps for hiding her father's partner, who was Jewish. Having to learn about each camp, know what was done, burdened my heart. I can only admire the survivors and those who lost their lives.

This is my tribute to you.

Christmas Eve

I want to wish all a wonderful and blessed Christmas. It the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season, take a moment to think about the holiday were are celebrating--Jesus birthday. Let the quietness and peace of that event rest in your heart.

If your heart is in pain, rest in His peace.
If you heart is rejoicing, feel Him smile with you.
Above all, have a wonderful Christmas.

December 7

Yesterday went unnoticed by many Americans and I didn't see it mention on the news, but for many in the Greatest Generation, my parents generation, they knew what yesterday was. It was the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and the US was plunged into WWII. I read in the newspaper in Japan Dec7 isn't considered a memorable date. Just one more date in their struggled to become a super power. They wanted to capture countries that had oil and other natural resources, so they could emerge as a super power. But for my parents generation it is the defining moment, where America turned outward and instead of following isolationist policy, they all pulled together to support the war.

Since I just put out a book set during WWII, I researched the times, The Last Truth. My heroine, Linette Van Linder is Dutch. Her parents and good friends are taken  away to different concentration camps since her parents hid their best friends and business partners, who were Jewish, from the Nazis. Linette sees her fiance standing in front of her house, dressed in a Waffen SS uniform, laughing and joking with the other SS soldiers. She's spotted and runs away. In her desperation, she runs into an American reporter who helps her escape Amsterdam. A marriage of convenience--no a marriage of desperation was born.

As the story progressed, I learned about things that happened during the war that I wish I didn't know, but I had to know the ugly reality to write the book. But my admiration for the men and women who stepped up to the plate grew. They did what they had to do. I've never heard anyone from that generation complain. They did what they needed to do, and came home to create a new America. That is greatness.