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My deepest apologies to my readers and to Hope Dougherty for my mistake yesterday, I posted just half the recipe! I am so sorry. So here it is in its entirety. And remember, check out Hope’s books Irish Encounter and Rescued Hearts on Amazon. Isn’t there a reader Christmas list who would love one or both of these books?

In Rescued Hearts, Gigi makes sweet potato biscuits for her grandson, Brett. The following recipe comes from my mother’s head, not a written page, so the amounts are my best guesses. If you want the directions with pictures to help you understand the process, visit my blog https://hopetolerdougherty.com/sweet-potato-biscuits/.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 medium baked, sweet potato (about ¾ cup)

1-2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups self-rising four

4-5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup buttermilk (may need more—or less)

Directions:

Combine the sweet potato and sugar.

Make a well in the flour and add the butter. Cut the butter into the flour with fingers until part of the flour resembles coarse peas. (You may want to use a pastry blender.) 

Begin adding the buttermilk to the well of butter and flour. (One hand is mixing the dough, and one hand is pouring.) As you add the buttermilk, drag in more flour from the sides of the well. 

Once you’ve incorporated about half of the buttermilk, add the sweet potato mixture to the well. Mix the sweet potato and buttermilk, flour, and butter mixture.

Keep adding the buttermilk and flour until you have a pretty good sized batter. Then add only enough flour to make the dough. Once the batter forms a loose dough, knead it lightly. Too much kneading will result in tough biscuits.

Now. The next step is where my family differs from most biscuit recipes. My cousin who has written several cook books calls how we make biscuits “choking them off.” We don’t roll out the dough and cut with a cookie cutter.

We hold the dough in our hands and pinch off the end to make a biscuit. This way saves steps and some clean-up, too.  Roll the pinched-off bit lightly in the palm of your hands. only a couple of times. Depending on the size you make them, you may have about twenty biscuits.

Place the biscuits on a sheet pan. I use a baking stone. Then following what my grandmother always did, I give each biscuit a nudge with my knuckles before placing the pan in a 450-degree oven. 

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Enjoy these biscuits hot or at room temperature. 

*Readers, I tried to be more specific with this recipe, but making biscuits is kind of an art. You get a feel for what the batter should look like and what the dough should feel like. If the dough is soft but still holding together, I know the biscuits will be good, not tough.

My advice is practice, practice, practice!

Last Thursday I interviewed fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty for my blog. Today she shares one of her favorite recipes. Check it out, and while you’re at it, go to Amazon and check out her books Irish Encounter (the heroine is middle aged, love it!) and Rescued Hearts (the suspense starts on the first page).  Thank you, Hope, for sharing your recipe with us.

In Rescued Hearts, Gigi makes sweet potato biscuits for her grandson, Brett. The following recipe comes from my mother’s head, not a written page, so the amounts are my best guesses. If you want the directions with pictures to help you understand the process, visit my blog https://hopetolerdougherty.com/sweet-potato-biscuits/.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 medium baked, sweet potato (about ¾ cup)

1-2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups self-rising four

4-5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup buttermilk (may need more—or less)

Directions:

Combine the sweet potato and sugar.

Make a well in the flour and add the butter. Cut the butter into the flour with fingers until part of the flour resembles coarse peas. (You may want to use a pastry blender.) 

Begin adding the buttermilk to the well of butter and flour. (One hand is mixing the dough, and one hand is pouring.) As you add the buttermilk, drag in more flour from the sides of the well. 

Today I’m happy to welcome Christian fiction writer Hope Toler Dougherty to my blog! Hope, I’m curious to know a little of your personal background. What would you feel comfortable sharing?

I’m so happy to be here! I’m a North Carolinian married to a Pittsburgher. That’s why I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers! In 2004, we moved our two daughters and twin sons from Pittsburgh to NC and built a house on land passed down from my great-grandfather. I come from a long line of farmers and readers.

Eons ago, I used to teach English on the college level. I’m a passionate supporter/volunteer for our public library.

When I read your book, Irish Encounter, I wondered if you had spent time in Ireland or just did a very good job of researching. Why did you set this book in Ireland, and how did you research?

My family and I have done three home exchanges to Ireland—one to Galway, one to Bandon in County Cork, and one in Blessington, County Wicklow (near Dublin). Those extended vacations gave me plenty of time to learn about the country and were a tremendous experience for all of us. My favorite city is Galway even over Paris and Rome because it’s an international city but small enough that I felt comfortable navigating it alone. 

I didn’t realize those trips were research trips, however. Our last exchange happened in 2007, and I began Irish Encounter in 2009. I had lots of travel books, my journal, and pictures to help me remember details, and I Googled other specifics I needed.

What is your biggest challenge as a writer? Have you discovered a solution that other writers might try?

Right now I’m having trouble getting started because I have so many questions about the next story. I sometimes have to force myself into my chair to write yucky stuff so that my screen won’t be blank all day. I probably have more problems with rough drafts. Writing is kind of scary for me. 

I’m such a nerd. I love searching for the best word, the best way to put together a sentence. It’s like a puzzle or a challenge for me.

I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. If I get stuck and don’t know what happens in the next scene, I usually leave the laptop and ride my bike or play the piano or bake something. Notice I didn’t say clean. Getting away from the writing position leaves my mind free to work on the story with no pressure. That and praying, of course!

I am assuming you’re an avid reader, as most writers are. What books did you enjoy while growing up?

I loved The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner as a child. I loved reading the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Engalls Wilder, the Betsy-Tacy and Tib series by Maud Hart Lovelace, and the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery to my children.

When did you first begin writing?

I wrote and published sporadically in local magazines and newspapers as I reared my children, not enough to put food on the table but enough to update my clippings portfolio. In May of 2009, our oldest daughter was weeks away from high school graduation. I knew I needed to consider employment options since my chronic volunteer/stay-at-home-mom gig would end in the next few years as my three other children finished high school.

One afternoon I wrote a title on a yellow legal pad of what I hoped would be an article for Guideposts Magazine. I immediately began day dreaming of Ireland, not the topic of the title on the page. That day dream became one of the early scenes in Irish Encounter, but I didn’t know it at the time. I thought I was just having fun. I called it a “writing project” until well into 50,000 words. My children called it “Mom’s book” before I did.

When a writer finally finds a publisher, she may be confused or surprised by the actual process. What, if anything, was a surprise to you?

By the time I was published, I had been attending writing conferences and studying the business for several years. I knew the process took time, a lot of time. I didn’t know how hard it’d be to market the books or how hard it’d be to have readers write Amazon reviews or how important those reviews are.

What advice would you give to writers who have not yet found a publisher?

Keep going—attending writing conferences, reading craft books, reading well-written novels. Most importantly, keep writing. Writing is one of the important ways to learn.

Why do you write Christian fiction? Any plans for mainstream projects?

I write Christian fiction because those are the stories God gives me. Seriously. I would never have chosen to write Christian Romance because as a former college English instructor I’ve seen and heard how some people disparage both Christian writing and the romance genre. 

Steve Laube, of the Steve Laube Literary Agency, told me to own it when I ended up sitting beside him at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference last September. He related this gem: Literary authors look down their noses at mainstream authors who look down their noses at romance authors who look down their noses on their way into the bank.

Now, I haven’t experienced “laughing all the way to the bank” with my royalty checks, but if Steve Laube says, “own it,” I think that’s pretty good.

I don’t have any plans to write for mainstream because this is the way God has gently led me to share about Him. I never was a very vocal Christian. If people asked me questions, I’d gladly share, but I never initiated conversations about God. Shame on me!

God has given me a way of doing what Christians are called to do (sharing about Him) in a non-threatening way with gifts and talents He gave me. Incredible!

Do you have a favorite Scripture or devotional author?

Two come to mind: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 and “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20.

How much of a role do your personal interests play in your writing?

Family is always important in my stories. Libraries are important, and they show up either in a quick comment or as a subplot. At least one character always crochets, and I always mention food, food, food! I love to cook!

How do you get ideas for projects?

Each story has begun differently. Irish Encounter began a day dream. Mars…With Venus Rising was my attempt at writing a story set in the US since we couldn’t find a publisher at first interested in a story partially set in Ireland. 

Rescued Hearts really hit me in the head one afternoon as I rode my bicycle by an abandoned house. I thought, “What if a bike rider saw a tangled kitten in front of an abandoned house? What if she stopped to free it? What if a criminal pulled her inside?” I was surprised by those questions because I’d never written suspense before. When the characters began talking, I knew I had to write the story.

Tell us about one of your book Rescued Hearts. What’s it about?

Here’s part of the back cover copy for Rescued Hearts:

Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain enters the house.

Discovering the kidnapped, innocent woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.

Some readers may be surprised by the intensity of the beginning of the story. Don’t worry. This novel is Christian Romantic Suspense!

I enjoyed writing this one because I had to interview our sheriff. He connected me with two undercover agents who helped me get the details right. They were very generous and kind through the whole process with someone who didn’t know anything except what TV shows depict!

Where can readers obtain your books?

My books are on Amazon.com. If you’re local and see me driving in town, I always have books in the back of my car!

Do you have a current project?

I’m making notes on a project. I’m having trouble with fleshing out the characters, the plot, the conflict…pretty much everything! 

What activities do you enjoy in your free time?

BEING WITH MY FAMILY.  My children are all over the world right now—NYC, North Carolina, Ranger School in Florida, and Iraq—so family time gets more difficult to come by.

I love to read, cook, crochet, and travel.

Please share links to your website, social media page, etc. In the space below.

http://hopetolerdougherty.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AUTHORHOPETOLERDOUGHERTY/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13941031.Hope_Dougherty

https://www.pinterest.com/hopetdougherty/

https://www.instagram.com/hopetolerdougherty/

Thank you, Hope, for answering my questions. Best wishes in your writing endeavors!

Thanks for having me, Pam!

Tuesdays are recipe days on my blog, but last week I dropped the ball! Many apologies to those of you who follow my blog expecting a Tuesday recipe, and a special apology to Christian fiction writer Beth Westcott, whose recipe was scheduled to appear last Tuesday. Beth’s recent release Meadow Song became available on Amazon the week of Thanksgiving and was featured in my blog on Thanksgiving Day.

With the Christmas holidays approaching, you may be looking for something different to prepare, and as a person who doesn’t much care for the cranberry relish in a can, this looks like the perfect (and better) alternative. Thanks, Beth, for sharing this with us.

Recipe for Cranberry Gelatin Salad

My mother used to make this for family dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s sweet and fruity. We ate it with our meal, but it could be a dessert. I love the red color—appropriate for the season. Easy to make.

1 pkg. (6 oz.) cherry gelatin

1 ½ cups boiling water

1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple

1 can (16 oz.) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 ½ cups seedless red grapes, halved

¼ cup chopped pecans

Dissolve gelatin in water; stir in pineapple and cranberry sauce. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Stir in grapes and pecans. Pour into 2-quart serving bowl. Refrigerate until firm. Yield: 8-10 servings

Last Thursday I featured Christian fiction author Regina Merrick to my blog. Today she shares a delicious recipe perfect for potlucks, parties, or the family. Thank you, Regina!

Here is a recipe that never fails to delight when you need a great “finger foods” dish for a potluck! I got the recipe from my sister, from whom I got my favorite wedding story ever. The wedding scene in Carolina Mercy is based on it! I hope you enjoy the recipe – and the story – as much as I have!

HOT HAM & SWISS HAWAIIAN ROLLS

 

1 – 12oz. Pkg. King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

½ to ¾  lb. thinly sliced or shaved ham (or turkey or roast beef)

½ lb. sliced Swiss cheese

¼ cup butter 

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce 

1 ½ Tbsp. Dijon Mustard 

½ Tbsp. minced dried onion or onion flakes

1 Tbsp. Poppy Seeds 

Slice rolls in half. Evenly distribute and stack ham on the bottom halves of rolls. Top with the sliced cheese. Place tops of rolls back on top of the ham and cheese. Place little sandwiches onto a cookie sheet or in a 13 x 9″ pan. Melt butter and whisk in the remaining ingredients— Worcestershire Sauce through poppy seeds. Brush butter mixture over the top of the sandwiches. Cover the sandwiches with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. Remove the rolls from the refrigerator and do not uncover. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the rolls, covered with foil, for 40 minutes, until they are warmed through and the cheese is melted.  This recipe doubles easily and you can simply arrange the rolls on a larger cookie sheet as they should be stacked close together. 

NOTE – a double recipe (24 rolls) fits perfectly in an 11×15 5 qt. baking dish.  I always separate the rolls and treat them separately, but put them in the dish right next to one another.  They usually turn out looking better that way.

 

Sent from my iPhone

Welcome, Regina, to my blog! Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, Pam! Thanks so much for hosting me today! I’m a wife, mother of two adult daughters, author, former librarian, musician, and vicarious DIY-er (that means I like to watch HGTV where other people are actually doing the work! LOL!). I have a daughter getting married next year, so weddings are forefront in my mind these days––wonder why I thought I needed a wedding in my last two books? 😉 My husband of 35 years is a retired teacher who hasn’t stopped since his retirement. He’s doing different things and trying really hard to stay out of my hair so I can write!

We’re going to talk about your books in a moment, but first, let us know a bit more about you. Do you have an interesting experience to share?

I like to think about what most people call “coincidences,” and I call “God-Winks.” When I first started writing, I was following other people’s blogs, commenting on a few, and positive I could never be published. One of the bloggers I got to know, and got to meet, actually, was Kaye Dacus. We met for lunch one day when I won a box of books from her in a drawing. I remember two main things from that meeting. Two statements. The first was “Tell me about your story.” That was the first time someone, in person, had asked me about my writing and expected a pitch. I learned then that I needed to have a pitch ready! The second was “You’ve got to meet Kathy Cretsinger.” It wasn’t long after that that I was invited to meet with Kathy, Susan Page Davis, and Sandra Robbins, and then the KenTen Writers Group was a huge part of my life. Kathy eventually published her own book, and she and Jerry are now MY publishers! I love when God shows us up, don’t you?

Most writers become writers because they love to read. Who are the authors that influenced you?

First was Laura Ingalls Wilder. Then, as a teen, I started reading Grace Livingston Hill and Emilie Loring, along with a Harlequin writer from the 60s and 70s, Essie Summers. She wrote Christian Fiction before Love Inspired ever came to be! I still read all of those authors over and over again! There have been many since then: Eugenia Price, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and now there are SO MANY Christian authors that I follow like Laura Frantz, Dianne Mills, Mary Coneally. An author who had direct influence on me was the late Sandra Robbins. I grab every copy of her books I can find, and I miss her so much!

What are some tools you use when writing?

Kathy Cretsinger put me on to the “Flip Dictionary,” and it’s fabulous! I’m also using Scrivener. I used it for books 2 and 3, and I’m using it for my current WIP, which is a new series.

How do you research for a book?

Google is a writer’s best friend! LOL! I’d like to say I take nice research trips (especially to the beach), but I don’t. I Google and subscribe to blogs and newsletters that pertain to my research. I’ve been on the South Carolina Tourism blog list for a while, and now I’ve started researching more forensics. 

Tell us about your books, their titles and what they’re about.

My first series is the Southern Breeze Series. Book 1 is Carolina Dream (April 2017), book 2 Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and book 3 is Carolina Grace (February 2019). This series takes place mostly in South Carolina, in the Pawley’s Island area between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. It begins with a Kentucky girl and an inheritance, and goes from there, pulling in friends and family. They’re all contemporary Christian romance, and I try to bring to life people with real problems and heartaches but give them hope!

Any works in progress?

I actually have two WIPs! One is book 1 of a new series, and it’s a contemporary romance with a mystery! The second is a novella in a collection with three other Mantle Rock Publishing authors, and they all take place on an island. Mine will actually tie in with my Southern Breeze Series!

You write Christian fiction. What separates your books from mainstream clean fiction?

Clean fiction is great. That’s what I grew up reading, and I would definitely like to write that as well. I guess the difference is that, as a Christian, the Christian world-view is just part of my life, therefore it’s part of my characters’ lives. God matters and is first in their lives, or they’re striving for that level of commitment. I use scripture, but I don’t whack people over the head with it. It has to be organic to be effective, I think.

Is there a particular saying or Scripture that you rely on for motivation or comfort or encouragement?

My first book, Carolina Dream, was centered around this verse: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4. It’s been “my verse” since I was a teenager, and as the years go by, I’ve realized that it doesn’t mean God is a genie who will grant wishes, but rather that when I submit myself to HIS desires, MY desires change to be closer to God’s.

What hobbies do you have?

Music is my biggest hobby. I’ve been playing piano in church since I was 13 and now play organ and keyboard for our services, and for our praise band. Otherwise, I love to watch HGTV and plan renovation projects. I always dreamed of being an interior designer, but how many of those do you really need in Western Ke;ntucky? So, I plan projects for my own house, and occasionally I get to do them! 

Do your personal interests or experiences find their way into your books?

Oh, most definitely! In book 1, Sarah was a pianist, and Jared was a real estate mogul, another HGTV interest of mine. My current WIP has a brother-sister team who owns a construction company specializing in old house renovation and restoration – that stems from both HGTV AND the fact that I own a 100-year-old house!

As a writer, I know that sometimes you can get discouraged. How do you work through the down times?

Honestly, down-times are rough. As an introvert (yes, really), I have to have my alone-time. I get discouraged when I’m over-booked and overwhelmed. Like weeks leading up to Christmas or any other major event. This year I’m also playing for a family friend’s wedding, and my daughter is looking at wedding venues while they’re here from NYC. I’m already feeling overbooked! Sometimes I just have to take a day off and take care of what’s keeping me from writing. Yesterday, in fact, I was feeling pressure from all sides, so I wrote a little bit, got stumped, and decided to work on music for the wedding. It was hanging over me, so I needed to eliminate something. It helped! I feel better about writing when I eliminate the things pressing on my mind. It’s my hope that eventually I’ll be able to write through all the other stuff that weighs on me. I’m still working on th

Anything you’d like to add? Just that you, Pam Harris, are another of my favorite authors and my favorite editor!! You have made my editing process so painless that I actually look forward to seeing what you have to say because you let me keep my voice. Thanks for making me a better writer!

Aw, you’re sweet to say that! I enjoy editing our books because I enjoy reading them! Thanks again, Regina, for participating in today’s blog;, and readers, continue reading to find helpful links and read more about Regina’s book.

Book Blurb:

She’s always gotten everything she’s wanted. He thinks he has to give up everything. 

Her best friend’s wedding is foremost on Lucy Dixon’s radar. Her biggest concern is once again meeting Tom Livingston, who has ignored her since an idyllic date on the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach the previous summer. 

At least, it is her biggest concern until tragedy strikes. Where is her loving, merciful God, now?

When Tom Livingston meets Lucy, the attraction is instant. Soon after, his mother is diagnosed with an untreatable illness and his personal life is pushed aside. His work with the sheriff’s department, his family – they are more important. He knows about the love of God, but circumstances make him feel as if God’s mercy is for everyone else, not him. 

Can a wedding and a hurricane – blessing and tragedy – bring them together?

Bio:

Short:

Regina Rudd Merrick is a writer, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Having lived most of her life in Western Kentucky, she dreams of the sound of crashing waves and sandy beaches. Married to her husband of 35 years, she is the mother of two grown daughters, and the keeper of a 100-year-old house where she lives in the small town of Marion, KY. She is the author of three books: Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017), Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and coming in Feb. 2019, Carolina Grace in the Southern Breeze Series. 

Longer:

Regina Rudd Merrick began reading romance and thinking of book ideas as early as her teenage years when she attempted a happily-ever-after sequel to “Gone With the Wind.” That love of fiction parlayed into a career as a librarian, and finally to writing full-time. She began attending local writing workshops and continued to hone her craft by writing several short and novel-length fan-fiction pieces published online, where she met other authors with a similar love for story, a Christian worldview, and happily-ever-after. Married for 30+ years and active in their church in Marion, KY, Regina and her husband have two grown daughters who share her love of music, writing, and the arts. Visit Regina on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or on her website at https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/trmerrick64 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reginamerrick/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/

Website: https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com 

Publisher Website: https://mantlerockpublishing.com/

Sale Links:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945094532/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530227728&sr=8-2&keywords=Carolina+Mercy 

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Mercy-Southern-Breeze-Book-ebook/dp/B07DYXW1G2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530227776&sr=8-1&keywords=Carolina+Mercy 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! My Thursday blog is a little early this week (it’s late Wednesday night as I type this) due to heavy cooking duties tomorrow, but I’m happy to be able to share an interview with novelist Beth Westcott. Beth’s first novel, Meadow Song, was just released this week. Continue reading to learn more about the book and its author.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions today so my readers can learn about you and your writing. Tell us a little about yourself.

Although I was born on Long Island, the youngest of seven, I grew up in Upstate New York in a farming community. My dad kept animals and planted a large garden every year. I loved going to school, I belonged to 4-H, and I became a Christian and active in a local church. I graduated from Hartwick College in 1973. I married Frank Westcott that same year, and we became parents of three children. 

Frank and I joined Child Evangelism Fellowship in 1979, after he graduated from Bible school. We lived in Northeast Pennsylvania and taught Good News Clubs, Vacation Bible Schools, and teacher training classes. After his ordination in 1984, he became an associate pastor and Christian school principal, then a full-time pastor. We worked together in church ministry for over 30 years, mostly in New York State. I taught children, held Bible studies for women, and took part in church music ministry. I began writing holiday programs for church, including poems, plays, and Scripture choir manuscripts, some of which were accepted for publication by Lillenas Drama in their Program Builders.

Five granddaughters call me “Grandma.” Our grandson passed away in 2017. Every year I have written (and illustrated) stories for my granddaughters for their birthdays. Writing for children was my first passion.

In 2014 my short story “Sadie and the Princess” was published in Heart-warming Horse Stories on Amazon. The book is still available.

You have a book that just came out this week. What is it about? (a short blurb will work here or just a general description) 

Artist Kate Greenway tries to escape the pain of losing her fiancé by leaving her home town and moving to Mill Vale. There she works in a florist shop for her friend Ellie. A year later she begins to paint again, and she meets Blythe Chambers, a motherless little girl whose enthusiasm for life rubs off on her. Then she meets Blythe’s uncle Jack. Kate and Jack are attracted to each other. Kate is ready to move on with life and love. Jack, however, plans to never marry because he feels that loving someone and losing her is not worth the pain and grief.  When Kate returns home to help care for her mother who has cancer, she doesn’t know if Jack will ever understand the importance of committed love, even if it means grief and loss.

What inspired you to write this story?

I began this story as a short story for a writing contest. I wanted a story with a child in it, and somehow Kate the artist met Blythe. The first draft felt incomplete. More of their story needed to be told, and it developed into a romance novel.

This book is Christian fiction. Why Christian fiction instead of mainstream?

I think I connect better with a Christian audience. I believe I’m following the Lord’s leading in this. I admire Christian authors who can publish mainstream and still include God’s truth.

Tell us about a typical writing day for you. Do you have a set schedule?

I prefer to set aside mornings to write, but often write during the afternoon or evening, depending on what has to be done. We recently moved, and my office is not yet set up. I find that a disadvantage.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing?

My greatest challenge is not to allow interruptions when I’m writing.

What advice would you have for others wanting to write fiction?

Learn how to write well. Read books and blogs about writing, and read books in the same genre in which you want to write. Attend writers’ conferences, where you will be inspired by other aspiring writers, and you will meet published authors, editors, agents, and publishers. And write every day. 

My blog followers are all over the United States and even some in the U.K. Have you traveled to any places that made an impression on you? If not, where would you most like to go?

My parents came from Rhode Island, so we spent vacations there. As a college student I spent a term in Brighton, England. While in England I met my great uncle, who lived in Cornwall. I’ve been to Colorado and Texas by automobile. Each state we passed through is different, but they are all a part of the United States. I became emotional when I saw places like the Rocky Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. I’ve enjoyed learning about Texas, where my daughter and her family live.

I would like to visit Israel, and I would enjoy a cruise to Alaska or Australia.

Any future books in the works?

Yes, I have a series called The Three Sisters, about three childhood “best friends” who split up as teens. Each girl’s story picks up during college or soon after, and includes romance and renewal of friendship. I also have a fiction book involving foster care and adoption, probably for a preteen/young teen audience. I’m considering a novel about a pastor’s wife.

Just for fun, tell us your favorite:

Author: Jane Austen

Music genre: Classical

Television show: We don’t have television right now.

Animal: Dog, or maybe cat.

Food or restaurant: chocolate cake

Holiday: Christmas

Vacation spot: Montrose Bible Conference

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or Scripture? 

My life verses are Proverbs 3:5,6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths.” NKJV

Please give us information on how readers can purchase your book.

My book is available on Amazon.

Last Thursday, I featured Christian historical fiction writer Michelle De Bruin on my blog. She graciously agreed to share one of her favorite recipes. When I saw the word “bacon,” that’s all I needed to know! I can’t wait to try this. Thanks, Michelle!

Bacon Cheese Topped Chicken

A recipe from Michelle De Bruin

½ cup Dijon mustard

½ cup honey

4 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil, divided

½ tsp lemon juice

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1 cup shredded co-jack cheese

8 bacon slices, cooked

Sal, pepper, paprika

In a bowl, combine the mustard, honey, 1 ½ teaspoons of oil, and lemon juice. Pour ½ cup into a large ziplock bag. Add the chicken. Seal the bag and turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours. Refrigerate the remaining marinade. Drain and discard the marinade from the chicken. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the chicken on all sides. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Transfer to a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with cheese. Cut bacon strips in half and place in a crisscross pattern over the chicken. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Michelle De Bruin is.a writer of Christian historical fiction. She has graciously agreed to answer my questions about her book and writing. Set in 1910 in a farming community, a young pastor returns home to help his mother and sister with the family’s dairy farm following his father’s unexpected death. As he deals with his family’s financial difficulties, his own internal struggles, and the hardships of daily life on the farm, he meets a young teacher from Chicago whose own life has taken an unexpected turn. The attraction is strong, but they have obstacles in their relationship. I have read this book and enjoyed it very much. To learn more about Michelle, her writing process, and her book, read on!

Tell us a little about yourself. I am Michelle De Bruin. I lead worship on Sundays, and am the spiritual services provider for an organization that offers services for people with mental and physical disabilities. I’m married to my husband Tom, and we have two teenage sons.

When did you first become interested in writing? I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, going to writer’s conferences for grade schoolers and keeping journals.

Was there a particular author who influenced you? Yes. Fiction writers: Janette Oke and Karen Wittemeyer. Non-fiction writers include Anne Graham Lotz, Timothy Keller, and Dallas Willard. 

What genres do you write? Historical fiction

What book(s) have you written? One book so far, with the title Hope for Tomorrow.

Describe your writing process. First, I make a basic outline with everything that I would like to have happen in the story. This helps me get a sense of the motivations, the goals, and the conflicts of the characters. Next, I decide the spiritual truths the story will communicate and further develop the characters. Third, I construct a timeline and solidify the story structure. Next, I write everything out in pencil on lined 5 ½ by 8 ½ paper scene by scene, until I’ve completed an entire chapter. Then I type it into my ongoing manuscript on Microsoft word. I self-edit as I go and then will do a complete read through before submitting it to the publisher.

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that find their way into your writing?

I enjoy studying Scripture as part of my spiritual services position. I also play piano and provide music for Sunday morning services. I like flowers, garden produce, and good cooking even though I’m not that great at any of those things.

What resources to you use when researching for a project? Books about vintage clothing, memoirs of people who lived on farms in the early 20^th century, and local history books.

Which of your books do you want us to know more about? Tell us about it. Since I only have one book published to date, I will tell you about that one. It is the one I mentioned earlier, Hope for Tomorrow. It is set in 1910 in a farming community. My own family history inspired me to choose the era and develop the characters. Whispers of my Dutch heritage are present in the book through the names I chose for some of the characters, and in the hero’s occupations, theology, and values. Hope for Tomorrow is the first in a series, so the following books go deeper into the hero’s background, bringing more of that heritage into the story.

We’d like to know more about you. Tell us your favorites in movies, music, vacation spots, food, books, etc. Anything you’d like.

My favorite movies are the three in the Despicable Me series. Hilarious! The little yellow minions are charming, and I love the idea of a bad guy who is too much of a softy to be a true villain. 

Music: Jim Brickman piano music

Vacation spot: Michigan Great Lakes

Food: Pumpkin pie, cinnamon rolls, and anything lemon flavored

Books: Historical fiction and non-fiction books on leadership

Life is very busy for most of us. How do you handle all the “busy-ness” in today’s society? Or is it an issue for you? I rely on resources like Ruth Haley Barton’s Sacred Rhythms book, and Richard Foster’s Celebration of the Disciplines to help me. I’ve found that if I have some spiritual practices in place, I can better pay attention to my need for rest and stay aware of who and what I love most. I set my priorities from there.

What advice do you have for anyone interested in becoming a writer? Know who you are. Your voice comes out of that to give integrity to your writing. Do the work of discovering your own unique identity in Jesus and the calling he has given you. Then when the days of silent waiting and rejection come, you’ll look in the right place for affirmation.

How can we find you and your books on social media and the internet?

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hope-for-tomorrow-michelle-de-bruin/1129589055?ean=9781945094583

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Tomorrow-Michelle-Bruin/dp/1945094583?keywords=Michelle+De+Bruin&qid=1539824352&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1

Michelle’s website: https://michelledebruin.com/

Michelle on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleDeBruinsAuthorPage/

Michelle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleDAuthor

Thank you for participating in my blog! Is there anything you would like to add?

Thanks for having me, Pam!

My family isn’t crazy about turkey, but they do like the dressing (stuffing to those of you not in the South) that goes with it. Years ago, while working in Dresden, Tennessee, a co-worker and friend told me about crockpot chicken and dressing. The recipe is in The Iris Festival cookbook (the Iris Festival is an annual spring event in Dresden, and it is a week packed with activities!). Thank you, David and Amy, for the cookbook, I love it! In 2000, my husband’s grandmother, who lived to be 100 and passed away in 2016, compiled some of her favorite recipes in a cookbook for Christmas presents for her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of my favorites of hers is a squash casserole recipe. Interested? Here they are.

Crockpot chicken and dressing: (submitted by M. Bowers of Martin, Tennessee, some directions are my words, not hers)

1 large cornbread (use 3 cups of cornmeal to make the cornbread–if you need a cornbread recipe email me at authorpamharris@gmail.com–and don’t use Jiffy cornbread mix, makes it too sweet in my opinion)

1 tablespoon sage

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 large onion, chopped

6 ribs celery, chopped (I omit this because my family doesn’t like celery)

4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 stick butter or margarine

1 can condensed cream of celery soup

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

2 14.5 oz. cans of chicken broth

3 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces

Cook chopped onion and celery in butter, covered, in a microwave for 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes. (I use the stove top, just cook on medium heat until onion is clear, stirring frequently) Crumble cornbread in a large bowl and add all ingredients and mix gently. Pour into greased 4 1/2 quart crockpot and cook on high for one hour. Stir after 30 minutes. After one hour on high, reduce heat to low for three hours. Serve moist. No gravy needed. Serves a large crowd.

Squash casserole:

4 or 5 yellow squash, cooked with one cut-up onion (not chopped, larger pieces). Cook until tender and drain. You can use fresh or a large frozen package of squash. I have never used zucchini, but I think that would work too.

1 cup of crumbled cornbread

1 can cream of mushroom soup (her recipe calls for one cup, but I always use one can)

1 egg

1 cup grated cheese (I always use Velveeta, and I don’t grate it. I just cut up small chunks of it, 1/2 pound.)

1 tablespoon butter

Mix all ingredients except the cheese. Pour half the mixture in a small casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Add layer of the cheese. Add rest of the mixture. Top with more cheese if desired. Bake at 350 for 20 to 30 minutes (I usually bake for 30 minutes, but make sure the top doesn’t burn.)

More about Mawmaw’s cookbook in a future post. What a great Christmas gift, a part of her that is always with us!