The spies of World Ward II: A Flute in the Willows

By Carole Brown

If you were a man in the 1940s, what style of hat would you prefer?

As a woman during this era, would you prefer volunteering as a WAC or working in a factory?

The 1940s is my favorite time period, I suppose, for many reasons, so writing these books is something I anticipate each time I begin another one. The research, yes, is vast, but I love research and work hard to get it right.

My mother lived through WWII and from her tales and pictures she shared, I was hooked on the era early on. Such romantic and swift marriages, clothing, hats, language, and music! I'm a romantic at heart, so it is easy to see how the WWII Spies series was born. I also was raised on the story of a civilian spy—we knew the man who wrote the book—and it was always suspected that he was that spy. It captured my attention that a person could serve as a spy and never be able to share their service or be recognized as such.

When I first thought of the idea of three red-headed sisters, it was with the knowledge I wanted to write the first book as a dedication to my mother and her love for her family and me. I also wanted to portray each sister as their own persons, with individual traits, but all of them beautiful and talented in her own way. This second book, A Flute in the Willows, deals with the second daughter, Josie Rayner Patterson, who eloped with Jerry Patterson in the first book.

That time period speaks to me in such a vivid way.

·       The dangers and spy activities,

·       The romance of the 1940s era,

·       The gorgeous fashions, the hats, and styles for both sexes

·      The men's bravery and the women's strength and determination in stepping up to fill their missing men's jobs,

·       The music—so much nostalgia, and particularly the flute

·       The slang and language,

·       Hair—both the styles and shades of red. (I wanted the right shade for each sister),

·       Germany

·       Ice Skating and the Olympics

·       The city of Cincinnati

·       The food, and/or lack of certain items

·       and so many other things resonate inside me.

All in all, the first two books have been a delight to write, and I'm looking forward to the writing the third book soon.

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AfitW Blurb

Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other's love...and keep the German enemy at bay.

She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she's scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?

Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamourous life...especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can't stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.

These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

Buy the Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

Sample Chapter

AfitW by Carole Brown 

First Chapter

Chapter One

1943

Jerry Patterson stared out the yawning black hole in the side of the plane. Seconds to go before he dropped. Night time parachuting was always a risky thing, but the pilot was one of the best who’d keep this baby right on target, lessening the chances he’d have to hit water. Trees were another matter, but with any kind of luck, the landing would go smooth.

Then to meet his contact and move into the German military high life. His pulse revved up. It was a dangerous game he was about to play.

Josie’s face flashed in his mind, and Jerry felt his heart soften. How he loved his tomboy wife. She was a beautiful butterfly dancing on ice, but put her in a social setting, and she was like a wild creature let lose in a maiden aunt’s prim parlor.

Three weeks of marital bliss. It’d been heaven on earth for him. One rapturous day—and night—after another. She’d cried the night before he’d left, but had been strength personified when he’d boarded the train the next morning.

If—no, when—he got home, he’d wrap his arms around her and not let her out of his sight.

Jerry stepped into the hole and dropped rapidly, counting. One thousand...One thousand one...One thousand two... With a jerk he pulled, the parachute opened above him, and he drifted earthward toward his assignment.

Bio:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

VOTE IN THE KINDLE SCOUT CAMPAIGN

What I’ve learned about doing a Kindle Scout campaign while I run one.

By Terri Luckey

First thing I learned is that lots of people don’t know what Kindle Scout is. Kindle Scout is a site where readers help decide if an e-book gets published through Kindle Press. If a book gets enough nominations, the author receives a contract on publishing their e-book that includes a $1,500 advance, 50% eBook royalty rate, and featured Amazon marketing. To qualify, the book must be fiction and unpublished.

Since Amazon wants the public to nominate books they like, there’s an incentive. If an author

receives a contract, everyone who nominated the book will receive a free kindle book. There’s no cost but it requires an Amazon account to nominate and people can only nominate three books at the same time. 

Even if authors don’t receive contracts, Kindle Scout still can give them exposure, and after the campaign Kindle Scout sends everyone who nominated the book the authors website to follow up.

When I decided to do a campaign, I jumped right in, without learning what I should have first. The

idea for my latest novel came from the headlines of teens being convinced by terrorist groups to commit atrocious acts. So after doing some research, I wrote a fiction book about some teens that are recruited from a group home by the government to infiltrate these terror groups. Since my main characters are age 17, it’s considered Young Adult, but it also is an action-adventure thriller, with suspense and romance thrown in. It’s secular, but clean and doesn’t have swearing or sex.

When I uploaded my book to the Scout site, I chose Young Adult for my top book category. This can’t be changed once the campaign starts. Then I learned from previous participants that YA books don’t do as well in Kindle Scout and I should have selected the thriller category first with YA second.

I also discovered that Kindle Scout doesn’t disclose the nominations received, just the page views. I’ve been told some participants have received over 50,000. The hot and trending books get the most views, but it takes lots of nominations to get in hot and trending and stay there. Anyone who wants to run a campaign should be prepared to do tons of promotions and marketing. They should learn as much as they can before starting, unlike me. Fortunately, some Christian authors have gone out of their way to help me. Some even started a support group for authors of clean or Christian fiction who want to do Kindle Scout and readers who want to support them in reaching those publishing goals. You can find them at 

The most crucial thing I learned is I need people to vote so PLEASE take a few seconds, click on my link and nominate my book Fearless. I REALLY appreciate your support!!!

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/400879727043964/

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2FIFMM1QYOWXQ

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/400879727043964/

(cover by Art 4 Artists http://www.art4artists.com.au)

Those who fight alone, lose.

To stop the terrorists who are recruiting kids, Derrick must band together with the delinquents from Fallentier group home, but should he risk their lives?

BIO: Terri Luckey is the author of the Kayndo series, the children’s picture book, Silly Dogs and the soon to be released YA novel, Fearless. She worked previously in the media industry as a reporter, news editor, scriptwriter and promotional writer.

To learn more about Terri Luckey’s books visit http://www.terriluckey.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerriLuckey

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorterriluckey/

Scout program: 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/400879727043964/

Write so Heaven will be Different

By Patty Hall

I hit a hiccup in my writing journey recently. For the first time in over twenty years, I had no desire to write, no new ideas to work on, no bits and pieces of scenes playing out in my head. My family and friends blamed it on my aggressive writing schedule and a recent bout of flu that had left me sick for almost two months.

But I’m not that easy on myself. There had not been a day in the last twenty years that I haven’t woken up with this overwhelming urge to write something. So what was wrong with me now? Was God trying to tell me my writing ministry was over?

Whenever I have doubts about my writing, I pick up two books of my favorites when I struggle with my writing—the Bible and Marlene Bagnull’s Bible study for writers, Write His Answer. But this time, after breezing through the first few chapters, I still was no closer to an answer than I was before.

Then I came to the chapter called Learning to Wait. While reading through it, I came across a challenge from Lee Roddy that cut me to the quick—Write so heaven will be different. Those words haunted me even after I put the book away. Wasn’t that what I was doing? Or had I pushed God aside in my effort to make the next deadline or work on a new proposal? Was I truly writing so that people would want to know the Lord?

I thought about what my writing was like early in my ministry. Even if I only got to sit down at my computer for a couple of hours, I rose refreshed and at peace, as if I’d been in a private conversation between me and the Lord. It was a time when I stood in awe as God used an inferior vessel like me to write extraordinary things!

Now, my writing has become a job with meeting deadlines, the endless marketing, and the business of publishing. A delicate balance was needed with God always the focus of every word I put to paper.

No wonder I had no desire to write. When I realized my mistake, I asked God for forgiveness and put Him at the center of my writing where He belonged. I spent time in prayer and reading my Bible.

And I’m itching to write again!

Are you struggling to write? Are you ‘writing so that heaven will be different?’ Make God the focal point of your writing today and every day!

MEET PATTY HALL

A multi-published author with Love Inspired Historical and Barbour, Patty lives in North Georgia with her husband of 35 years, Danny; two gorgeous daughters, her son-in-love and a grandboy who has her wrapped around his tiny finger. When she’s not writing on her back porch, she’s spending time with her family or working in her garden.

. I SEARCHED FOR THE SUPERNATURAL

By Debbie Beck

As told to Ada Nicholson Brownell

Excerpt from the new book, What Prayer Can Do

As a child I cried when I heard the story of the Crucifixion. It seemed so sad that the Lord Jesus Christ should be tortured to death!

In the church I attended they did not explain to me why He died. They did not teach what the Bible says about the day of salvation.

I accepted Christ and was baptized, but only because that’s what the rest of the Sunday school kids did. It had no special meaning for me.

But I had a longing for spiritual life as I grew older, I experimented with many weird things. I started with the Ouija board and took the route of witchcraft, tarot cards, fortune-tellers, trances, parapsychology, and mind control.

 I searched for answers to life’s mysteries. I hungered for God, and I was ready to try anything I could find that pertained to the supernatural.

But none of these satisfied. They increased my emptiness.

I did discover there is supernatural power in the occult, but it was Satan’s power, not God’s. I have felt Satan’s heavy presence. I dressed in black and went to so-called “haunted houses” for séances. It was not all fake. I communicated with the spirit world. I’ve seen spirits take form in front of my eyes. But this only gave me fear—not peace. It did nothing for the emptiness I felt inside.

A fortune teller said I would die in a car accident at a certain time and place. The accident happened. The circumstances were almost the same as predicted—only I wasn’t there. I avoided going to the place at that time and escaped death.

What I was doing was fascinating, but it didn’t bring me the peace and joy I craved. It only made me afraid. Fear seemed to predominate the spirit world in which I found myself...

___

Read the rest of the story in Ada Brownell's book, What Prayer Can Do 

Buy What Prayer Can Do here  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973555646

The Amazing Power of Prayer

ARE YOU PRAYING?

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

But why do some miracles not come?

Ada Nicholson Brownell’s new Book: What Prayer Can Do

:

Newsmax Health says a specific amount of “prayer time” per day can help prevent memory loss, mental decline, and even dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The organization points to 47 “scientifically proven” benefits of prayer, including pain relief, reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke, lessened anxiety or depression, and more.

But broken marriages and messed-up lives changed for the better in a moment? A blind man instantly able to see? A forest fire redirected? Rain held at bay? A child healed of leukemia? A child with an undeveloped brain and hydrocephalus suddenly normal? The meanest man in town changed into a loving person and an evangelist by an encounter with God?

I’ve heard testimonies of answers to prayer all my life, and I just mentioned some of them. I’ve known people who, like me, have experienced the miraculous. I’ve written testimonies about miracles for nearly sixty years, and most were documented.

Miracles still occur in the 21^st Century, and it’s happened in our family.

Go to church and ask people you meet, “What is the greatest answer to prayer you’ve ever received?” You’ll be amazed. I’ve had many answers to prayer in my own life and they’re still occurring.

But what about those whose prayer for a miracle isn’t answered the way the person on his knees had hoped?

By reading the Bible we learn not every hoped-for miracle happens. Despite knowing Jesus is our healer, that God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, our hearts were broken when we lost our oldest daughter to cancer when she was age 31. We still miss her! 

Yet, I know God loves us. Jesus gave His life so every one of us who believes in Him will live forever, but our human bodies are destined to die some time. Yet Jesus said those who believe in Him will never die (John 11:26). Yes! Our spirits are immediately in heaven, like the thief on the cross was with Jesus that day in Paradise, and Stephen the martyr was immediately there to see our Savior at the right of the Father.

God did give us a miracle, however, in the amazing peace and comfort He gave despite our loss. How can I explain peace despite our prayer for Carolyn’s healing unanswered while many other prayers result in miracles? Here are a few things I learned from scripture.

1.  I accept the truths in the Bible by faith. Faith is a decision. Yet, we don’t know the reason why some miracles don’t happen, but we know healing is in the atonement. The stripes on Jesus’ back were for our healing. (1 Peter 2:24).
2. An atmosphere of doubt interferes with God’s Spirit working among us. Jesus Himself couldn’t do many miracles in Nazareth because of a spirit of unbelief (Matthew 13:57-58).

3.     What our mind feeds on affects our personal faith. (Romans 10:17).

4.      We have a drought of God’s power because we don’t seek the Gifts of healing, faith and miracles. God gives the Gifts to those for whom He has a specific purpose but He also tells us to ask for them (1 Corinthians 12).

5. Lack of fasting and prayer affects spiritual outcomes. (Mark 9:28,

6.     Although we know our sin doesn’t cause most sicknesses, sin could cause us to be sick or even die. (1 Corinthians 11:29--31). When, however, some people witnessed the healing of a blind man and asked who sinned, the man or his parents, Jesus said, “Neither, so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1-3).

7.      Some people aren’t healed or delivered because of “the greater good, as the preceding scripture states. When our oldest daughter was near death from cancer she left a witness. Four people gave their lives to Christ and others recommitted themselves to God.

8. Often God uses faith and works and we should give Him credit for these miracles, because he gives wisdom and knowledge for health care. James said, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:14-16).

9.  Sometimes healing doesn’t come because we’re being tested, as Job was. “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold” (1 Peter 1:7 NKJ).

10.  God’s sovereignty means He always has the last word. God has the last word in everything, including how many days we live. We have promises all over the Bible about healing which we can grasp and believe, but we have to put the whole Bible together for correct doctrine.  It should give us comfort, and not fear, to know everything is in His hands.

How did I walk through this journey? I consumed the Word of God like a ravenous lion tears into a hunk of meat. I communicated with God many times throughout the day, went to sleep at night repeating the Word, and woke up with a prayer on my lips, thankful for the hope we have in Jesus!

God ministered to me in so many amazing ways, and He not only comforted after our loss, my faith is even stronger now. When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom showing we can come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  I combined what I knew from being a medical writer and what I learned in the Bible about eternal life and I wrote the book, Swallowed by Life: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal.

Now I’ve combined testimonies and articles I wrote for The Pentecostal Evangel over the years into a book that will bless your boots off. God is working miracles in our generation. He’s working miracles in our families. He works in each of our lives in answer to pray.

Buy What Prayer Can Do here:  http://ow.ly/9CEI30h4IdL

Amazon Author Page with my eight books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06

 --Copyright Ada Brownell 2018