Meet and Greet Monday: Cynthia Ruchti

Book Giveaway Drawing!

Read details later in this post.

Cynthia Ruchti writes and produces THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio broadcast and served American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) for the past two years as president. Her debut novel--THEY ALMOST ALWAYS COME HOME (spring 2010 from Abingdon Press)--was nominated for an RT Book Reviewers' Choice Best Inspirational Novel award in suspense. A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS, a novella collection from Barbour Publishing, with her novella "The Heart's Harbor" released in September of 2010.

Dear Reader,


I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. An innkeeper! And an author. How can I do both? Make one of my characters an innkeeper for a Victorian bed and breakfast in a charming, artsy, nature-rich village along the shores of the Green Bay part of Lake Michigan in Door County, Wisconsin.

Actually, two characters in my novella The Heart’s Harbor in the collection A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS (Barbour Books) are innkeepers. Lola Peterson owns the inn. Amanda Brooks is drafted to run it in Lola’s absence. That would work okay if Amanda knew anything about innkeeping and if Lola’s budget-conscious son could keep his adorable nose out of it.

The Heart’s Harbor started out as one of those projects abandoned to a computer file. When the opportunity arose to work on a novella collection with author-friends Eileen Key, Rachael Phillips, and Becky Melby, I took it out of storage. But what I thought would require a few adjustments to fit the category and focus of the novella turned into a much larger project as the comedic aspect begged for a voice and Amanda, Jordan, Lola, and all the other characters in The Heart’s Harbor tugged at my sleeve for a chance to tell their stories.

I discovered that even lighthearted romantic comedy can offer layers of deeper meaning for readers, including myself. As I worked on the story, I discovered a defining thread I didn’t know was there, an important stabilizing principle for successful relationships. It’s spelled out on page—

Glad I caught myself! Wouldn’t want to give it away before you’ve had a chance to read it for yourself and watch the drama (and comedy) build to that moment.

A novella length doesn’t offer much “time” to spend on complicated plots. But life is naturally complicated sometimes, isn’t it? Amanda’s disappointments, Jordan’s regrets, and Lola’s matchmaking converge in a “what are we going to do?” situation that challenges their creativity,
their patience, and their relationship skills. As readers watch Jordan and Amanda figure out when a love is worth pursuing and Who authors that kind of love, they may catch a glimpse of answers for their own relationships. And share a laugh along the way.

When I choose a book from the shelf and settle into my cushy chair with a cup of strong black tea (or an exotic flavor), I find myself drawn to intriguing-but-real characters living through extraordinary-but-believable circumstances, usually in the women’s fiction genre. Living through…and triumphing. I’m working on a couple of projects that are just shy of ready to talk about. Soon! Heart-tugging, soul-stirring life lessons will no doubt catch me by surprise in those pages, too.

You can purchase A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS through most Christian bookstores, at many Sam’s Clubs and Wal-marts across the country, and online sources like www.amazon.com. It is sold out in many markets, which is another reason to get excited about the giveaway Janalyn is conducting.

Stop by my website for information about other books I’ve written and other projects that keep me from being idle. www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com or www.cynthiaruchti.com.

Thanks, Janalyn, for the opportunity to chat with your readers.

It's always a pleasure to host you, Cynthia.



©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


Book Giveaway Drawing: Cynthia Ruchti will give away a free copy of  A Door County Christmas to three readers of this blog. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in your comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Thursday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). 

I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central on Friday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.

Meet and Greet Monday: Margaret Daley

Book Giveaway Drawing!

Margaret Daley is an award-winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold seventy-five books to date.

Margaret serves as the Volunteer Officer for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She is active as a teacher with that group, with Romance Writers of America RWA), and also mentors other writers. Now retired, she spent 27 years as a teacher of students with special needs. She has served as a Special Olympics coach and on the Outreach committee at her church.


Letter From Margaret:

Hi, I am Margaret Daley and I write for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. I am thrilled to join you today to tell you a little bit about me and my writing. I have been writing for over 30 years. I just recently sold my 75th book. I love writing Christian romances and suspense books. 

Last Friday I had surgery on my right shoulder because my rotator cuff was torn. So I am writing this using MacSpeech. It feels strange to dictate what I want to write. I have to learn to do things with my left hand. This is hard because I am right handed. We learn to take things for granted until something like this happens. I never realized how much I used my right hand until now. 

I am the Volunteer Officer for American Christian fiction writers. Through this organization I have met some amazing writers and industry professionals. ACFW is a wonderful place where writers can network and learn the craft of writing. I would not be where I am today without ACFW. 

This month I have a new book out called A Daughter for Christmas. It is the third book in my Helping Hands Homeschooling series. The back blurb says: 

Dr. Max Connors had no idea he had fathered a child 13 years ago. Or that his baby girl had been given up for adoption. He locates his daughter in a small Oklahoma town and moves there, hoping to become a part of her life. But when he meets her widowed mother, Max is unsure how to reveal his identity. As he helps Rachel Howard with her plans to homeschool the girl, he’s welcomed into the family. But with the holidays approaching, Max must tell Rachel who he really is. Can he make his dreams of family come true by Christmas? 

In December I have another book coming out called Christmas Bodyguard. This is a romantic suspense story for Love Inspired Suspense. This story is the first in my Guardians, Inc. series. This new series revolves around female bodyguards.

To learn more about Margaret and her books, you can visit her web site. At http://www.margaretdaley.com she offers excerpts from her books and information about new releases.

You can also visit Margaret online through her blog: http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com.

Find books by Margaret Daley at Christianbook.com or through Amazon.com (purchase boxes on the left).
Book Giveaway Drawing: Margaret Daley will give away A Daughter for Christmas to a reader of this blog. To enter, leave a comment to this post. Please include a way to reach you or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Wednesday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). The winner will be announced on Book Readers Central on Friday. If a winners fails to respond within a week of notification, the winner will be reassigned. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central on this blog are located in the footer of this blog.



** Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon.com through links from Book Readers Central.

Free For All Friday - More Author's Quotes About Christmas

                                         I heard the bells on Christmas Day
                                         Their old, familiar carols play,
                                         And wild and sweet
                                         The words repeat
                                         Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
                                         - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                      Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.
                      - Edna Ferber 

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
- Washington Irving

                     A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
                     The poor man's heart through half the year.
                     - Walter Scott

                                Somehow, not only for Christmas
                                But all the long year through,
                                The joy that you give to others
                                Is the joy that comes back to you.

                                           And the more you spend in blessing

                                           The poor and lonely and sad,
                                           The more of your heart's possessing
                                           Returns to you glad.

                                           - John Greenleaf Whittier

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making.
- Leigh Hunt

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: A Carol for Christmas

Carol gives up her dream of a music career when she drops out of college to marry Johnny Burke. But she's not alone in making sacrifices. Johnny also drops out of college in order to provide for his new wife. As a result, he enters his father's real estate empire at a lower level than he would have had he stayed in college and finished his business degree.

While Johnny scrambles to prove himself to his workaholic Dad, working long hours himself, Carol keeps the home fires burning. But as she waits night after long, lonely night for her weary husband's return, Carol begins to question if this is the life she wants. To make matters worse, Johnny has crushed her guitar under the tires of his truck, and they can't afford to replace it.

An opportunity arises for Carol to realize the dream she gave up, putting both her marriage and her faith in God to the test. A Carol for Christmas resolves in a heartwarming affirmation of the power of love.

The short length of this novella is perfect for holiday reading. Despite its brevity, the characters and setting are well-detailed and believable, a testament to the story-telling ability of author Robin Lee Hatcher. I found the resolution a little pat, but the characters were likable enough to keep me reading. If you want a feel-good book to consume with your eggnog, you can't go wrong with A Carol for Christmas.