“People think authors sit outside on the lawn all day, relaxing. Writing. What they don’t realize is there are sprinklers going off.”
Showing posts with label Beth K. Vogt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beth K. Vogt. Show all posts
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Beth K. Vogt | Spread the Christmas Joy
The Comforting Joy of Christmas
But the truth is, some of us arrive at December exhausted. Or maybe we’re grieving the loss of a family member of friend. And no amount of sugar cookies and holly-jolly lyrics will put the “merry” into Christmas for us. For me, the “most wonderful time of the year” is tinged with sadness because I’ve been estranged from my extended family for four years.
So where’s the joy of Christmas when your heart hurts? When sorrow shrouds our hearts, we need to remember what’s behind the flashy details and musical soundtrack of Christmas.
My favorite name of Jesus is “Emmanuel,” which means God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Christmas celebrates His birth – the profound truth that God is with us. God knew we needed Him. He knew we would experience all sorts of difficulties. That we would hurt. That we would cry behind closed doors decorated with Christmas wreaths. That there would be times others would be celebrating and we would be stumbling through the normal, everyday motions. God knew and sent His Son to be with us.
There’s a quiet joy in that truth, especially when you realize that one of the synonyms for the word “joy” is solace or comfort.
Let’s give each other the gift of honesty this Christmas. If you’re hurting, choose a family member or trusted friend to confide in and ask them to pray for you. I call these people my “spiritual ground support.” If you know someone who’s struggling this December, be brave enough to ask how they’re doing. Maybe even send them an occasional text or write a card telling them you’re praying for them.
No matter what your circumstances, Christmas is coming. The truth is, Christmas has already come, thousands of years ago, when Jesus was born. Emmanual, God with us. May you find the joy you need in that miraculous truth.
_____________
*Giveaway*
Beth is offering a copy of Almost Like Being in Love AND a $10 Starbucks gift card! Enter below:
All giveaways run until January 2nd and winners will be announced shortly after. Use the image to the left to share on social media and don't forget the hashtag: #SpreadTheChristmasJoy16
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Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Beth K. Vogt {Writer Wednesday}
A little bit about Beth...
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).
Connect with Beth...
Website: http://www.bethvogt.com/
Blog: http://www.bethvogt.com/blog/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5042181.Beth_K_Vogt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethkvogt/?ref=badge
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
Purchase: Almost Like Being In Love
Get to know Beth...
Your Writing
Why are you/did you write it?
Almost Like Being in Love is the second novel in my destination wedding series, which also has two e-novellas. My heroine, Caron Hollister, is the sister of Logan Hollister, who was the hero if Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the first novel in the series. Caron lurked in the background in the first novel and it was so much fun to bring her front and center in this story.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
All of my books have a Story Question, which is a question that my characters wrestle with and have to answer by the end of the book. It’s a question my readers can wrestle with too. The SQ for Almost Like Being in Love is two-fold: Just because you’re “perfect" for each other, does that mean you should marry each other? And going deeper a bit deeper: How do we let others’ expectations for us shape our lives?
Emilie here: Wow! What great questions Beth!
What was a challenge you faced while writing it?
Interesting question. I turned my manuscript in on time, but there was a nagging question in the back of my head: What’s not working? Something didn’t quite feel right. About two weeks later, I figured out what the issue was while I was on a walk with a writing buddy. I called Beth Adams, my editor at Howard Books, and told her how I thought we should change the story. I knew the change would take a major rewrite. She agreed with me and sent the manuscript back. I then rewrote about 60-70% of Almost Like Being in Love. You change one major thing in a story’s plot – you change a lot of other things.
Emilie here: That's inspiring Beth - it helps to understand the reality of writing. It's not just about writing an "okay" book, it's about writing the BEST book you can! I'm sure you're changes made it even better.
Did you get to do any fun research for the book?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Write what you know.” Oftentimes, writing is “Write what you want to know.” Or “Write what you need to know.” Both Caron Hollister and Kade Webster, as well as several other characters in the book, are Realtors. Other than having bought and sold several homes when my husband and I have moved, I know nothing about being a Realtor. I’m thankful for several friends who are Realtors who came to my aid and answered all my questions so that I was able to realistically write Caron and Kade.
What's the most random thing you had to Google for the story?
Kade Webster and his business partner, Mitch, participates in a “Mudder” – an outdoor obstacle race. And so I had to Google information about a Mudder that took place in Snowmass, Colorado because my race was based on that race. I needed to know about the different kinds of obstacles. My son ran it a couple of years ago, which is how I got the idea for including a Mudder in the book. Also, I have friends who founded Heart of the Bride, an international ministry for orphans, and they host The Emerald Coast Mud Run, a fundraising mud race, every year in Florida.
Writing
What’s your encouragement for younger writers aside from “keep writing”?
Go ahead and start thinking like a professional writer. My daughter, Christa, is 15 ½ years old, and her best friend Elisabeth is 17 years old. They are co-writing a YA series together and have been involved with ACFW for two years, including attending the local Colorado Springs meeting each month. Find a writers group. Find a mentor – which means praying about and then approaching a more experienced writer to see if they’ll spend time with you and coach you.
Emilie here: LOVE this thought! Great advice for young (and old) writers.
What is your favorite and least favorite part of the writing process?
At some point everything becomes my “least favorite part” of the process. I love being a writer because I’m living my dream! But I’ve also learned the “living the dream” means doing the work. I’m an editor and I love editing. And I love brainstorming story ideas with other writers. I love diving into a story and I love reaching the end. But there are times I think, “Do I really want to do this again?” I also know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. Writing is my passion and it’s the way I reflect God to the world. The Creator made me a creative.
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters?
My stories are always inspired by real life events and people. Sometimes a snippet of a conversation will be the catalyst for a story. Or a challenge I’ve faced – or am facing – sparks a story idea. Or I read something in a magazine and I start mulling over it and think, “How would this play out in a book?” I’m a relationship-oriented person, and my novels are all about relationships and how messy and complicated they are. But I also believe that God is a relationship-orientated God and that He came into our lives because He cares about our mess and doesn’t want to leave us where we are.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, have a favorite artist or playlist to share?
I love to listen to music while I write – and sometimes I play mindless TV shows in the background – things like HGTV’s Flip or Flop or Fixer Upper. I’ve gotten in the habit of creating playlists for every book I write. I learned this from author Evangeline Denmark, a wonderfully creative writer-friend of mine who wrote the book Curio.
Emilie here: Oh man, if I had Fixer Upper on I'd be hooked LOL. But I do love having a playlist for my writing.
How do you grow in your writing craft?
I love to mentor other writers and that challenges me keep learning, to keep developing as an author. I also am a part of My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by author Susan May Warren. I wouldn’t be published without her help and without my mentor, Rachel Hauck. I love the MBT Deep Thinker Retreats.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You
How do (did) you like to celebrate the 4th of July?
Our family counted down the days to the 4th of July because my oldest son Josh came into town from Seattle. He moved there last October because he was offered a job at Paizo Press as an editor. Yep – he’s an editor and author, too. Ink flows in my family’s veins. One of the things we did was celebrate everyone’s birthdays while he was in town. And we grilled out – we love to cook out and have s’mores! As a former military family, we love the 4th of July.
Share a personal freedom you’ve experienced.
I struggled with fear a lot as a child, and even as an adult. As a believer, I know that God says that we don’t need to be afraid – so many Scripture verses speak to how God gives us peace and is our refuge and strength. About 20 years ago, during a time when I was leading a Bible study on prayer and learning to listen to God, I heard him whisper the word “Freedom” to me during a time of prayer. As He walked me through some specific healing of past hurts, God released me from that bondage to fear.
Emilie here: Thanks so much for being my guest Beth! What beautiful and inspiring thoughts here! And major congratulations on winning the Christy Award for A Crazy Little Thing Called Love. What an awesome and deserved accomplishment!
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A 2015 RITA® Finalist and a 2015 and 2014 Carol Award finalist, Beth is a contemporary romance novelist with Howard Books. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. In 2015 she introduced her destination wedding series with both an e-novella, Can’t Buy Me Love (May) and a novel, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (June).
Connect with Beth...
Website: http://www.bethvogt.com/
Blog: http://www.bethvogt.com/blog/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5042181.Beth_K_Vogt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethkvogt/?ref=badge
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
Purchase: Almost Like Being In Love
Get to know Beth...
Your Writing
Why are you/did you write it? Almost Like Being in Love is the second novel in my destination wedding series, which also has two e-novellas. My heroine, Caron Hollister, is the sister of Logan Hollister, who was the hero if Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the first novel in the series. Caron lurked in the background in the first novel and it was so much fun to bring her front and center in this story.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
All of my books have a Story Question, which is a question that my characters wrestle with and have to answer by the end of the book. It’s a question my readers can wrestle with too. The SQ for Almost Like Being in Love is two-fold: Just because you’re “perfect" for each other, does that mean you should marry each other? And going deeper a bit deeper: How do we let others’ expectations for us shape our lives?
Emilie here: Wow! What great questions Beth!
What was a challenge you faced while writing it?
Interesting question. I turned my manuscript in on time, but there was a nagging question in the back of my head: What’s not working? Something didn’t quite feel right. About two weeks later, I figured out what the issue was while I was on a walk with a writing buddy. I called Beth Adams, my editor at Howard Books, and told her how I thought we should change the story. I knew the change would take a major rewrite. She agreed with me and sent the manuscript back. I then rewrote about 60-70% of Almost Like Being in Love. You change one major thing in a story’s plot – you change a lot of other things.
Emilie here: That's inspiring Beth - it helps to understand the reality of writing. It's not just about writing an "okay" book, it's about writing the BEST book you can! I'm sure you're changes made it even better.
Did you get to do any fun research for the book?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Write what you know.” Oftentimes, writing is “Write what you want to know.” Or “Write what you need to know.” Both Caron Hollister and Kade Webster, as well as several other characters in the book, are Realtors. Other than having bought and sold several homes when my husband and I have moved, I know nothing about being a Realtor. I’m thankful for several friends who are Realtors who came to my aid and answered all my questions so that I was able to realistically write Caron and Kade.
What's the most random thing you had to Google for the story?
Kade Webster and his business partner, Mitch, participates in a “Mudder” – an outdoor obstacle race. And so I had to Google information about a Mudder that took place in Snowmass, Colorado because my race was based on that race. I needed to know about the different kinds of obstacles. My son ran it a couple of years ago, which is how I got the idea for including a Mudder in the book. Also, I have friends who founded Heart of the Bride, an international ministry for orphans, and they host The Emerald Coast Mud Run, a fundraising mud race, every year in Florida.
WritingWhat’s your encouragement for younger writers aside from “keep writing”?
Go ahead and start thinking like a professional writer. My daughter, Christa, is 15 ½ years old, and her best friend Elisabeth is 17 years old. They are co-writing a YA series together and have been involved with ACFW for two years, including attending the local Colorado Springs meeting each month. Find a writers group. Find a mentor – which means praying about and then approaching a more experienced writer to see if they’ll spend time with you and coach you.
Emilie here: LOVE this thought! Great advice for young (and old) writers.
What is your favorite and least favorite part of the writing process?
At some point everything becomes my “least favorite part” of the process. I love being a writer because I’m living my dream! But I’ve also learned the “living the dream” means doing the work. I’m an editor and I love editing. And I love brainstorming story ideas with other writers. I love diving into a story and I love reaching the end. But there are times I think, “Do I really want to do this again?” I also know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. Writing is my passion and it’s the way I reflect God to the world. The Creator made me a creative.
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters?
My stories are always inspired by real life events and people. Sometimes a snippet of a conversation will be the catalyst for a story. Or a challenge I’ve faced – or am facing – sparks a story idea. Or I read something in a magazine and I start mulling over it and think, “How would this play out in a book?” I’m a relationship-oriented person, and my novels are all about relationships and how messy and complicated they are. But I also believe that God is a relationship-orientated God and that He came into our lives because He cares about our mess and doesn’t want to leave us where we are.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, have a favorite artist or playlist to share?
I love to listen to music while I write – and sometimes I play mindless TV shows in the background – things like HGTV’s Flip or Flop or Fixer Upper. I’ve gotten in the habit of creating playlists for every book I write. I learned this from author Evangeline Denmark, a wonderfully creative writer-friend of mine who wrote the book Curio.
Emilie here: Oh man, if I had Fixer Upper on I'd be hooked LOL. But I do love having a playlist for my writing.
How do you grow in your writing craft?
I love to mentor other writers and that challenges me keep learning, to keep developing as an author. I also am a part of My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by author Susan May Warren. I wouldn’t be published without her help and without my mentor, Rachel Hauck. I love the MBT Deep Thinker Retreats.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You
How do (did) you like to celebrate the 4th of July?
Our family counted down the days to the 4th of July because my oldest son Josh came into town from Seattle. He moved there last October because he was offered a job at Paizo Press as an editor. Yep – he’s an editor and author, too. Ink flows in my family’s veins. One of the things we did was celebrate everyone’s birthdays while he was in town. And we grilled out – we love to cook out and have s’mores! As a former military family, we love the 4th of July.
Share a personal freedom you’ve experienced.
I struggled with fear a lot as a child, and even as an adult. As a believer, I know that God says that we don’t need to be afraid – so many Scripture verses speak to how God gives us peace and is our refuge and strength. About 20 years ago, during a time when I was leading a Bible study on prayer and learning to listen to God, I heard him whisper the word “Freedom” to me during a time of prayer. As He walked me through some specific healing of past hurts, God released me from that bondage to fear.
Emilie here: Thanks so much for being my guest Beth! What beautiful and inspiring thoughts here! And major congratulations on winning the Christy Award for A Crazy Little Thing Called Love. What an awesome and deserved accomplishment!
Monday, May 16, 2016
Beth K. Vogt, Deb Kastner & Becky Wade | New Novel News
by Beth K. Vogt
Published: May 3, 2016
From: Howard Books
Purchase: You Can't Hurry Love
What if your long wait for love brings you back to your first love? You Can’t Hurry Love is the second 99 cents e-novella in my destination wedding series. It’s the romance of Elisabeth Straker, the penultimate “always the bridesmaid never the bride,” who was also the best friend of Bellamy, the heroine in Can’t Buy Me Love, the first e-novella in my destination wedding series.
Get to know Beth...
What’s one thing you must do in the morning?
One thing? Oh gosh, these “one thing” questions are so challenging! All I know is my days go so much better when I walk with my writing buddy and close friend, Mary. We walk. We talk. We pray. By the time we’re done, we feel better physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And we always finish the walks with one of us saying, “This is the day the Lord has made …” and then the other person says, “ …we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
We have two dogs right now. Jo is my youngest daughter’s dog, and was a rescue puppy. Jo was found with her three sisters and a brother in an alley – no mama dog anywhere. The rescue shelter named them Meg, Jo, Amy, Beth, after the sisters in Little Women. The boy was named Chubbs. I don’t remember a “Chubbs” in Little Women. Then we also have Twister, our “grande dame” dachshund. She’s 14 years old, hard of hearing and she also can’t see very well anymore. She spends most of the day sleeping. When she’s awake, she’s cranky. But we love her.
Do you have a nickname? Care to share?
If I shared my childhood nickname you would have to swear to be my friend forever – and also swear to never, ever reveal it. My husband calls me “girl,” and I call him “boy.” Weird, I know. Another thing about nicknames: All of my children have nicknames. And I love to give my close friends nicknames. I think nicknames are fun and a special term of endearment.
by Deb Kastner
Published: April 19, 2016
From: Harlequin Love Inspiried
Purchase: The Cowboy's Twins
A Surprise Dad
Rancher Jax McKenna's gotten used to being on his own. Then surprise twin babies—daughters he never knew existed—arrive on his doorstep, and his world goes topsy-turvy. Strong, silent Jax has a way with horses. Not little girls! So when Texas newcomer Faith Duggan steps up to help, he's overwhelmed with gratitude. Faith's following her dream of buying a mustang rescue sanctuary. And she needs Jax, too. But after a tragic accident changed his life forever, Jax isn't used to letting anyone in. Could Faith be the exception…and the partner he's always searched for?
Get to know Deb...
Who is your favorite secondary character?
In my very first Serendipity, Texas novel Phoebe’s Groom (three series ago!) my heroine is encouraged to come to town by Jo Hawkins Spencer, the saucy, red-curled owner of the only restaurant in Serendipity, Cup O’ Jo’s Café. She wears unique and sometimes sarcastic t-shirts, is a second mother to most of the town and is the hub of Serendipity’s gossip mill. She’s appeared in every one of my Serendipity novels. I think everyone should have a Jo Spencer in their lives.
What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Coffee. Coffee. Did I say coffee? I’m not a morning person at ALL. I’m not grumpy before my morning caffeine, just incoherent.
What are the names of your pets?
I’m a dog lover. I have a Cairn terrier/Westie mix named Missy and a Pit Bull/Shepherd cross named Sadie. I also have three grand-puppies. My middle daughter has a purebred Chihuahua named Paris and a purebred teacup Yorkie named Jack-Jack. My youngest daughter has a Chihuahua mix (and I do mean mix—sometimes I think of different animals, not just dog breeds) named Mea. Youngest was planning to get a boy dog and name him Romeo, but she fell in love with a female and named her “Romea.” Mea for short.
by Becky Wade
Published: May 3, 2016
From: Bethany House
Purchase: Her One and Only
When NFL super star Gray Fowler is threatened by a stalker, his team hires a professional bodyguard to ensure his safety. But when Gray's "protection" turns out to be a woman half his size, he's indignant. Will Dru Porter--a former Marine and expert markswoman--prove herself worthy of the job? And meanwhile, who's going to guard Gray's heart?
Get to know Becky...
If you're main character celebrated Halloween, what would they dress up as? Dru Porter from Her One and Only is fierce! The hero, Gray Porter, often likens her to a comic book super hero. Thus, I think Dru would dress as Cat Woman for Halloween. She'd feel completely at home in the black leather outfit and high heels.
Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
Every hero I've ever written. Not only does the heroine get to fall in love and win the hero over the course of a romance novel, but so does the WRITER and so does the READER. That's why I so enjoy writing and reading love stories! I'm enamored of the heroes. Ah, the heroes.
If I had a knife I'd carve our initials into a tree. It would look something like, BW + MJ + BP + TP + JP + JB + WM + GF.
What are the names of your pets? My dog is named Sam. He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He snores, gazes at everyone with bulgy-eyed adoration, has a super mellow vibe, gobbles up his daily portion of food in under a minute, rides along for carpool, is a champion cuddler, and keeps me company when I'm writing. Here's a picture of him joining hand-to-paw with my youngest daughter to say grace before dinner.
Thanks for hosting me at Thinking Thoughts, Emilie! I truly appreciate it.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Beth K. Vogt | Spread the Christmas Joy
When Christmas Comes Wrapped in Expectations
Christmas often comes wrapped in expectations, doesn’t it?
Let there be snow.
Let us all be home for Christmas.
Let the table be loaded down with all the family favorites … whatever those favorites may be for you and yours.
Let that longed for gift be waiting under the tree.
In other words, may Christmas this year be the most wonderful time of the year!
And sometimes, Christmas meets our expectations … maybe even exceeds them … and sometimes, Christmas doesn’t.
Long, long ago in a time faraway, my family was a military family stationed in Turkey. We spent not one, but two Christmases overseas in a predominately Muslim country. The nationals made concessions to the Americans living there, selling pairs of tiny handcrafted mittens that we hung on our Christmas trees, along with beautifully elaborate carved copper ornaments, unlike any you’d find in a stateside department store.
The second year we were stationed in Turkey, my physician-husband had to work from Christmas evening to the following morning in the emergency room. I didn’t want to tuck our three young children into bed that night without their dad there to read them stories and to pray over them and to share memories of the day with them. So Rob and I devised a plan – one that diverged from our usual tradition of Christmas night relaxing at home.
Rob and I dressed our 6-year-old son, and 3-year-old and 18-month-old daughters in their PJs, and drove the short distance to the base hospital. Once there, we unfolded an inflatable mattress in Rob’s small office and filled it with air, much to our children’s glee. Then we all bedded down in my husband’s office for the night, with Rob ready to answer the call of his pager whenever a patient needed him.
Was it the Christmas night we’d come to expect? No. But was it a memory-in-the-making? Choosing to be a family together, even if togetherness meant camping out in a military hospital for the night? Yes.
And wasn’t that first Christmas all about changing expectations, too? A virgin giving birth? The savior of the world, arriving as a helpless infant? Immanuel, God with us – instead of God standing distant, separated from us by the Law? (Isaiah 7:14-17)
Today I’m wishing you a gloriously Merry Christmas, one where your expectations are surprised … overturned … by the unexpected.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Beth K. Vogt & Jennifer Uhlarik | New Novel News +GIVEAWAY
by Beth K. Vogt
Published June 30, 2015
Howard Books
Purchase: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
What if what you thought was your biggest mistake was actually the right choice? Wedding bells and storm clouds collide in the first novel in Beth K. Vogt’s destination wedding series that examines the power of love, and the mishaps and missteps that happen on a couple’s journey down the aisle to “I do.”
Get to know Beth...Share one pet peeve you have.
My pet peeve reveals itself when I drive: inconsiderate drivers frustrate me. I’m one of those people who talk to other drivers. “Fine, come on over in my lane without using your blinker,” or “Get off my bumper, buddy!” I’m proud to say I’ve taught this “say it out loud” driving technique to my daughters.
What's your favorite chore? I like to clean out the fridge. Seek and destroy the old foodstuff. Wipe down the glass shelves. Reorganize everything, because I do have a system for where everything goes – and yes, my family ignores it.
What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning?
Besides saying good morning to my husband? For the past year and a half, I’ve taken morning walks with my writing buddy, Mary Agius. She lives one street away from me. We walk 3-4 miles. Our walks are absolute necessities – mentally, physically and spiritually. We walk, talk, and pray together. And at the end of every walk, we say, “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
with Jennifer Uhlarik
Published July 1, 2015
Barbour
Purchase: The Convenient Bride Collection
The Convenient Bride: Join nine brides of convenience on their adventures in a variety of times and settings gone by—from a ranch in California…to the rugged mountains of Colorado…to a steamship on the Mississippi…to the dangerous excitement of the Oregon Trail…into high society of New York City. No matter the time or place, the convenient brides proceed with what must be done, taking nuptials out of necessity. . .and never dreaming that God might take their feeble attempts to secure their futures and turn them into true love stories for His glory.
Get to know Jennifer...What's one chore you hate doing?
Just one? The chore I most loathe is mopping floors. I don’t mind sweeping floors, but I detest mopping them!
Which of your characters do you secretly have a crush on?
This would be a toss-up between Teagan Donovan, my hero in Sioux Summer (found in the Oregon Trail Romance Collection) or Cullen McGuinness, my Irish hero in an unpublished work I’m still trying to place.
Would you rather go to the future or go to the past?
The Past. I know what to expect there, since we can read about the times and events that happened. Thus, I can prepare myself for what it will be like.
Leave a comment to enter to win a copy of one of these amazing books! I'll pick the winner and announce next Monday, July 20th. {U.S. residents only}
Monday, February 23, 2015
The Grove | New Novel News
I love talking about the writing community! Actually, I just like talking about community in general (like this post, and this one). But, one thing I've found is that readers and writers share a special bond. And it's not books.
Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. It's not about what writers are writing or readers are reading, it's a bond that goes beyond that...
It's story.
The Grove is a place for those of us with a story. You have one. I have one. God even has one - and it includes all of our stories.
If you haven't heard about The Grove let me give you the straight up facts:
8 Women:
Beth K. Vogt
Cara Putman
Courtney Walsh
Katherine Reay
Katie Ganshert
Kristy Cambron
Melissa Tagg
Sarah Ladd
The point:
Welcome to The Grove, where story finds a home.
This is their tagline and I love it! Don't you?
The Grove is comprised of these eight women (all authors - and yes, you need to check them ALL out) who want to share their lives, not just their writing. Their focus is: Grow, Rest, and Prayer. I don't know about you, but I could use a lot more of each of those things!
I'll leave it to you to check out their awesome website and read through their encouraging posts. I mainly want to point this out as a resource. I've had the blessing of getting to know some of these women personally and--seriously--they are amazing! They have genuine hearts for the Lord and want nothing more than to inspire, encourage, and entertain with their writing.
I hope you get a few minutes to spend at The Grove. Say hi, join the community there, and be blessed by these women.
Go check it out:
The Grove website
The Grove Instagram
The Grove Twitter
The Grove Pinterest
Connect on Facebook:
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
25 Favorite Reads of 2014
Well, looking back on this year, I have gotten the chance to read some incredible books! I know a lot of people who share their "best of" or "favorites" lists, so I thought...why not join the gang?
I started by going back through my Goodreads list to see what I actually read this year! Call me crazy, but the year flew by and I was having a hard time remembering what all happened this year. So, these aren't in any order other than the order that I read them in. Some were read for review, some just for fun, but either way--if you're looking for books to read in 2015, look no further ;)
25 Favorite Reads of 2014
1. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung
2. Galatians for You: For Reading, For Feeding, For Leading by Timothy Keller
3. Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck
4. Beowulf: Explosives Detection by Ronie Kendig
5. Humility: The Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray
6. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
8. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
9. Mortis by Hannah Cobb
10. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
11. Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig
12. Words of Conviction by Linda White
13. A March Bride by Rachel Hauck
14. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
15. Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest by Bonnie Gray
16. Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt
17. The Judgement Stone by Robert Liparulo
18. Hacker by Ted Dekker
19. Redeeming the Rancher by Deb Kastner
20. A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
21. Operation Zulu (all Episodes) by Ronie Kendig
22. The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen by Tosca Lee
23. Deceived by Irene Hannon
24. A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker
25. In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin
I started by going back through my Goodreads list to see what I actually read this year! Call me crazy, but the year flew by and I was having a hard time remembering what all happened this year. So, these aren't in any order other than the order that I read them in. Some were read for review, some just for fun, but either way--if you're looking for books to read in 2015, look no further ;)
25 Favorite Reads of 2014
1. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung
2. Galatians for You: For Reading, For Feeding, For Leading by Timothy Keller
3. Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck
4. Beowulf: Explosives Detection by Ronie Kendig
5. Humility: The Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray
6. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
8. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
9. Mortis by Hannah Cobb
10. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
11. Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig
12. Words of Conviction by Linda White
13. A March Bride by Rachel Hauck
14. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
15. Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest by Bonnie Gray
16. Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt
17. The Judgement Stone by Robert Liparulo
18. Hacker by Ted Dekker
19. Redeeming the Rancher by Deb Kastner
20. A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
21. Operation Zulu (all Episodes) by Ronie Kendig
22. The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen by Tosca Lee
23. Deceived by Irene Hannon
24. A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker
25. In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Beth K. Vogt {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY
I am so excited to introduce you, my dear readers, to an amazingly talented author who's recent release I've had the pleasure of reviewing (you can see the review here). And not only that, but Beth has graciously offered to do a GIVEAWAY of her novel, Somebody Like You!
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction, Beth is now a novelist with Howard Books, with her third novel, Somebody Like You, releasing May 2014. She enjoys writing inspirational contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy writing community. Connect with Beth on her website or check out her blog on quotes, In Others’ Words.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
Purchase Somebody Like You
You and Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing?
...There were never enough books around the house to read, even with frequent trips to the library, and so I started writing stories to keep boredom at bay. When I went to college, I asked myself this question: What one thing do I love doing that I could imagine doing it every day for the rest of my life? The answer: writing.
What has kept you writing?
...I’m stubborn, I guess. And I have a wonderful community of writing friends and mentors who encourage me and pray for me – that makes all the difference.
Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written?
...I don’t play favorites. Each book is special for different reasons.
What was the hardest thing about publishing?
...The hardest thing about publishing was – and still is – keeping my head screwed on straight. This business will mess with your sense of self on a daily basis if you don’t know who you are before you sign a contract and after you sign a contract. I have to stay strong in my faith to do that.
...Hmmmm. The easiest part? Spending time with other writers and sharing the love of story.
Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...I wrote Somebody Like You because I’ve always wanted to write about twins – I have a fraternal twin sister – and because I wanted to explore the often difficult relationships within families. Just because we love one another doesn’t mean our relationships are easy.
Do you have a favorite character in this work?
...I love my heroine, Haley. In Somebody Like You, Haley discovers who she really is – and lets go of who she thinks she has to be. That’s true freedom.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...One takeaway: That relationships are messy … and they are worth fighting for.
Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...My stories are always based on real life. I like to write “real,” even though I am writing novels. My characters are fictional, although I might give them quirks that I’m familiar with because they’re mine – or maybe someone I know does or say something similar. And I like to write about true-to-life issues that we all struggle with.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I am an encourager at heart, so yes, I want people to be encouraged. I also try to weave humor into my stories. But I also want people to pause and think about relationships and the choices we make … and maybe even think about who God is and who he says we are.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Persevere. Connect with other writers and encourage one another, share advice with one another. If this is your dream, don’t let anyone – including yourself – talk you out of it.
You
How did you like to celebrate the 4th of July?
...July 4th is a favorite holiday because my husband served in the military, so we have a strong patriotic streak. We like to get together with family and friends and grill outside. Our family motto is “There’s always room for one more!” All of us like to cook, so we’re always trying new recipes, which make it lots of fun. If we can end the day watching fireworks, all the better – but that’s not always possible in Colorado because of the fire bans the last few years.
How are you making the most of your time this summer for writing and relaxing? Do you do anything different in the summer months?
...I am on back-to-back book deadlines right now, so it’s a working summer for me. My family knows this and we adjust and make the best of it. We make time for fun and for the deadline.
Thank you so much for a great interview Beth! I love that you mention the community of friends you have praying for you and how you mention knowing who you are before and after a book contract. Reminds me to always be giving my writing to the Lord and not to try and do any of it on my own! It's great that having a twin played a part in Somebody Like You! Fun fact: my mom's a twin.
Lastly, I absolutely love this line: "If this is your dream, don’t let anyone – including yourself – talk you out of it." Sometimes we can be our harshest critics and convince ourselves of all kinds of things. Our focus should be on what God has for us despite our weakness - kind of like God choosing David to be king when he was the forgotten brother.
>>Readers, don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Somebody Like You. I'd love to hear your favorite part of this interview or possibly what you did for the 4th!
Just leave a comment below to enter to win.
{I will be posting the winner on Tuesday, July 15.}
* * *
A little bit about Beth...
Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction, Beth is now a novelist with Howard Books, with her third novel, Somebody Like You, releasing May 2014. She enjoys writing inspirational contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is also the Skills Coach for My Book Therapy writing community. Connect with Beth on her website or check out her blog on quotes, In Others’ Words.
How to connect with Beth...
Website: http://www.bethvogt.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5042181.Beth_K_VogtFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethKVogt?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethvogt
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/beth_vogt/
Purchase Somebody Like You
Author Interview | Beth K. Vogt
You and Writing Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing?
...There were never enough books around the house to read, even with frequent trips to the library, and so I started writing stories to keep boredom at bay. When I went to college, I asked myself this question: What one thing do I love doing that I could imagine doing it every day for the rest of my life? The answer: writing.
What has kept you writing?
...I’m stubborn, I guess. And I have a wonderful community of writing friends and mentors who encourage me and pray for me – that makes all the difference.
Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written?
...I don’t play favorites. Each book is special for different reasons.
What was the hardest thing about publishing?
...The hardest thing about publishing was – and still is – keeping my head screwed on straight. This business will mess with your sense of self on a daily basis if you don’t know who you are before you sign a contract and after you sign a contract. I have to stay strong in my faith to do that.
...Hmmmm. The easiest part? Spending time with other writers and sharing the love of story.
Your Writing Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...I wrote Somebody Like You because I’ve always wanted to write about twins – I have a fraternal twin sister – and because I wanted to explore the often difficult relationships within families. Just because we love one another doesn’t mean our relationships are easy.
Do you have a favorite character in this work?
...I love my heroine, Haley. In Somebody Like You, Haley discovers who she really is – and lets go of who she thinks she has to be. That’s true freedom.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...One takeaway: That relationships are messy … and they are worth fighting for.
Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...My stories are always based on real life. I like to write “real,” even though I am writing novels. My characters are fictional, although I might give them quirks that I’m familiar with because they’re mine – or maybe someone I know does or say something similar. And I like to write about true-to-life issues that we all struggle with.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories? ...I am an encourager at heart, so yes, I want people to be encouraged. I also try to weave humor into my stories. But I also want people to pause and think about relationships and the choices we make … and maybe even think about who God is and who he says we are.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Persevere. Connect with other writers and encourage one another, share advice with one another. If this is your dream, don’t let anyone – including yourself – talk you out of it.
You
How did you like to celebrate the 4th of July?
...July 4th is a favorite holiday because my husband served in the military, so we have a strong patriotic streak. We like to get together with family and friends and grill outside. Our family motto is “There’s always room for one more!” All of us like to cook, so we’re always trying new recipes, which make it lots of fun. If we can end the day watching fireworks, all the better – but that’s not always possible in Colorado because of the fire bans the last few years.
How are you making the most of your time this summer for writing and relaxing? Do you do anything different in the summer months?
...I am on back-to-back book deadlines right now, so it’s a working summer for me. My family knows this and we adjust and make the best of it. We make time for fun and for the deadline.
_________________________________
Thank you so much for a great interview Beth! I love that you mention the community of friends you have praying for you and how you mention knowing who you are before and after a book contract. Reminds me to always be giving my writing to the Lord and not to try and do any of it on my own! It's great that having a twin played a part in Somebody Like You! Fun fact: my mom's a twin.
Lastly, I absolutely love this line: "If this is your dream, don’t let anyone – including yourself – talk you out of it." Sometimes we can be our harshest critics and convince ourselves of all kinds of things. Our focus should be on what God has for us despite our weakness - kind of like God choosing David to be king when he was the forgotten brother.
>>Readers, don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Somebody Like You. I'd love to hear your favorite part of this interview or possibly what you did for the 4th!
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