Deb Kastner | Spread the Christmas Joy

Loving Sacrifices

Hello! Deb Kastner here with “He knows when you’ve been sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake. Oh, you better watch out…”

I have nothing against Christmas carols. Ask anyone in my family who gets tired of me belting out Christmas tunes and cranking Christmas albums. I’m the one in the church choir who gets excited when Christmas music starts trickling out into our folders in October.

But this little ditty, not so much. First of all, raise your hand if you think having some “jolly old elf” always watching you is kind of creepy. Am I right?

Second, although really this should be first, we know Who watches over us, awake and asleep. Ultimately God is the One to whom we’re accountable for our thoughts, words and actions.

And yet hundreds of thousands of parents over the years have used this very song to hold over the heads of their children. For at least a couple of weeks a year, kids strive to be good and think twice before acting, lest they end up on Santa’s “naughty list.”

But is that what we ought to be teaching our children? “You be good or you won’t get…”

My church has started a new tradition that I absolutely love. At the beginning of Advent they handed each child a bundle of hay. Did you sneeze when you read that? Bless you.

Whenever one of my grandchildren performs an act of mercy or an act of loving sacrifice, they collect one straw. For the time being, we’ve been spreading the straws throughout our nativity set. On Christmas eve, the children will bundle up the straws they’ve earned and place them in the manger of the church nativity scene. By their kind acts, they are making a soft place for Baby Jesus to lay.

Now that’s a tradition I can get behind. Sacrificial love to please the Lord. If it requires me to take Benedryl from now until Christmas, it’s a small price to pay, to see the glow and delight of my grandchildren’s faces as they offer up their gift to Jesus.

As for me? I’ll be in the choir loft, joyfully belting out Christmas hymns. Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

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~~Love Courageously~~

Award-winning author Deb Kastner writes contemporary inspirational romances containing sigh-worthy heroes and strong heroines facing obstacles that draw them closer to each other and the Lord.

Deb has written over 25 published novels and has over a million books in print. Awards include first place in the Beacon contest and three Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nominations. She has presented numerous writing workshops in Colorado and is involved in leadership roles in American Christian Fiction Writers at both the state and local levels.

She lives on Colorado’s beautiful Front Range with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She has three grown daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. Spoiling the grandkids is her favorite hobby, but she also enjoys movies, music, and singing in the church choir.

http://www.debkastnerbooks.com

The Cowboy's Yuletide Reunion 

When Sarah Kendrick meets her high school sweetheart again, she's ashamed to show Marcus Ender how far she's fallen. But when they're snowed in on her ranch, and he returns holiday joy to her family, Sarah could have a merry Christmas…if she'll say yes.

The Cowboy's Christmas Gift by Arlene James

An injury forces rodeo rider Matt Ender home to his family's ranch—where he clashes with his grandmother's pretty business partner.

Former cowgirl Neely Spence has no time for love. Can they open their hearts and find family this Christmas?

Deborah Piccurelli {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Deborah...

Deborah M. Piccurelli is an advocate for sanctity of life, and tackles such issues in her novels, weaving them into compelling stories. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two sons.


How to connect with Deborah...


Website: www.deborahmpiccurelli.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomdeb_piccurelli
Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100003395634363
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DebPiccurelli (or @DebPiccurelli)
Pinterest: pinterest.com/DebPiccurelli
Purchase her book here: http://www.deepershopping.com/item/deborah-m-piccurelli/hush-little-baby/4259807.html

 Author Interview | Deborah Piccurelli

You & Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing?
...Writing is something I always liked, even in school. Reading good books made me want to write them. 

What has kept you writing? 
...I didn’t actually begin writing books until some years after I had my children. What has kept me doing it for the past approximately 15 years is, again, I just love doing it. I love creating worlds, and characters, and plots.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written?
...I’ve only had two published, so far, so I can’t really say either one is a favorite. I do so like the one I’m currently working on, though. If so, why?
...There are a lot of elements that are much different from anything in my other works.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? 
...Ha! The actual getting to be published. After that, I’d have to say marketing and promotion. The easiest? Seeing the actual book in print, holding it in your hands, breathing in that new book aroma...




Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book.

Here is the back-cover blurb:

...Investigative journalist, Amber Blake, is a little person bent on payback for the death of her average-sized twin sister. Enlisted by her former partner and estranged husband, Evan, she poses as a counselor in an abortion clinic to expose the doctor responsible for fetal harvesting. As a Christian, she struggles with concealing her beliefs to maintain her cover, while the doctor’s romantic overtures tumble her stomach. Amber agrees to date him for the sake of the story . . . but nothing prepares her for what’s behind a mysterious door in his office.

Why are you/did you write it?
...Romantic suspense is my favorite genre to read, so naturally, it’s my favorite to write. I chose the premise because my brand is to write issue-related stories, and abortion is certainly a big issue these days.

Do you have a favorite character in this work?
...For some reason, Evan is my favorite. If so, why?
...I guess it’s because his personality seemed to take over. He has courage and is opinionated, but he is also gentle and loves with all his heart and soul.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...That we should do all we can to protect the precious life that God has given to each and every one of us. Especially the innocent ones.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters?
...Everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, television, the Internet. Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Usually, the stories are based on real life issues, but the characters are primarily imagination.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I want to entertain, inspire, encourage, make an impact on the lives of readers and, yes, make them laugh, too.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Never give up. If the Lord has placed the desire in your heart to write, then He will equip you to do it. It could take years, but it will eventually come to fruition.

You

In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
...Pumpkin pie, and pumpkin flavored everything.

When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be? 
...I guess my aspirations weren’t very lofty by today’s standards. I wanted to be a secretary. Back when I was a young child, I thought it looked really neat to be sitting at a desk, tapping away at a typewriter (I’m really dating myself, here), or sitting by the boss’ desk taking dictation, while he spoke a mile-a-minute. And I became just that.

Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month?
...I've never had the chance to do that. I bought a book on it some years back, too. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get to do it this year. 

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Thank you so much for sharing with us, Deborah! Your novel sounds intriguing! I love you you say to "never give up". I firmly believe that writing and the desire to write is God-given! And I'm right there with you about pumpkin everything! I am so happy it's fall - I just bought my first pie pumpkin last night and I cant wait to cook it up and make some pumpkin bread. Thanks again for sharing!