Renee Blare Welcomes in a New Release!

Smack, smack! Waaaaaaaah! We have a new little baby! That's right. Our own Renee Blare has a brand spanking new release! We're all SO proud of this new addition to our Diamond Mine nursery! And since I can't wait to lay hands on that baby, let's mask up and dive in!

You can have a ecopy of this new bundle of joy for free! Leave your name and email in the comments section for a chance to win!

PT: Renee! Another new baby? Wow, what an accomplishment. This one has been christened, Racing Hearts. Give us a peek under that blanket. What genre would you say this

one falls under?

RB: Racing Hearts is a bit different than my other books. I write suspense and mystery with a touch of romance for the most part, but this book would be labeled more Romance and Women’s Fiction. It does have some suspense and mystery in it but that’s not driving forces in the story.

PT: I know it is part of the Love is Series. They are based on certain Bible verses. What's this one based on?

RB:  In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses 7, we find an aspect of love. Within that verse, we find the words, “always trust” or “believes all things,” depending on your translation. This book explores that very thing and how important it is to the foundation of love in a relationship, especially when faced with the unexpected.

PT:  It is true that love is not just an emotion. It's action. So where did you get the premise of the book?

RB:  Racing Hearts is actually based on real life experience. I borrowed a slice of my own past and put the pen to the page. I changed characters, time, and space, but a lot of what you read in Racing Hearts is taken from my own heart and life as well as my husband’s. Not all, of course, and that’s what makes writing fun!

PT:  Really?! That makes the story even more touching! This is your fourth published book and there is rumblings of a fifth. How has being a writer changed your life?

RB:  It’s made it much busier, but amazing. I love the stories that the Lord gives me to write. I just wish I had more time to write them down. Promotion is a nightmare! As if I had time to write, marketing? Are you kidding? I’m a pharmacy manager and my time isn’t my own, but those I serve. But I know God has a plan for my writing, and I’ll continue to trust Him not me.

PT: What’s next for author Renee Blare?

RB: You mean AFTER Racing Hearts? Believe it or not, I have another release in November. The 18^th to be exact. Crazy Woman Christmas, the first Christmas story I’ve ever written, is due out! 

PT:  Ah! So it's true! There's a fifth coming out. And so soon!

RB:  I can’t wait. I’m as excited about Crazy Woman Christmas as I am about Racing Hearts but for different reasons. Racing Hearts is such a personal story, and it’s close to my own heart because of it. Crazy Woman Christmas is special for other reasons. It’s set in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and involves two people as different as night and day. How can they connect? It’s Christmas!

PT:  And we know anything is possible at Christmas! One last thing. I always love to ask five things of each author that have zippo to do with writing. So let's hear it, Renee. Go!

RB:  Five things but NOT about writing? Mmm, that’s a tough one. Let’s see…

-                      I love to hunt but won’t take an animal unless I know I can bring it down with one shot. I hunt with a .243 Remington Model 700.

-                      I’ve had twelve surgeries that I can remember, and many more I can’t, but my husband still has me beat at thirty-seven.

-                      I’ve been a pharmacist for eighteen years and worked in institutional, hospital, nursing home, clinical, and retail pharmacy. I’ve also worked for the Indian Health Service and the Veterans Health Administration.

-                      I love to take pictures of my Wyoming home. In fact, a relaxing day for me is taking a drive and doing exactly that, rain, snow, sleet, or shine.

-                      I don’t take anything for granted. Why? A fire destroyed most everything I loved when I was very young. Later, after I was grown, I woke to my husband at the bottom of the stairs. When we left Wyoming, I realized too late what I’d had outside my door. So . . . I’ve learned the hard way that “things” don’t matter, my strength is an illusion, and the future’s not a given.

PT: There's a wealth of knowledge in that last one, and I can visualize a lot of story starters from the others! Wow, it's been an extreme pleasure to visit you with your new little arrival. How about a little pic of that lil' dumpling?

Don't forget to leave your name/email address in the comment section to be entered to win a ecopy of Racing Hearts!

Bio:  Renee Blare has been buried in a book for as long as she can remember. Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, she started writing poetry in junior high school and that, as they say, was that. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar.

Nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, she lives in Wyoming with her husband, crazy dogs, and ornery cat. She serves her beautiful small town as a pharmacist while penning her stories about struggling Christians as they travel along the journeys of their lives. She loves to interact with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.

Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Blog: https://reneeblare.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/

Interview and Giveaway with Author Anita Klumpers!!

Being a beautiful, rich young widow has its drawbacks. Avoiding a murderer shouldn’t be one of them.

Elise Amberson’s husbands always die before she can get the marriage momentum going. At least this last one left her with lots of money. Now she can hang out with her dogs, avoid men, and try to keep off God’s radar.

But her dogs are behaving oddly, a pesky pastor can’t keep his hands off her soul, and God is backing her into a corner. It’s all more than a rich, beautiful young woman should have to bear. But when someone begins targeting Elise, she’ll have to figure out why before she becomes the late Widow Amberson. 

Wow!! Welcome to the first book in the new series from Prism Book Group! It's "Hounded," by our guest author, Anita Klumpers! Be sure to leave a comment for Anita at the end of the interview for a chance to win a copy of this exciting story. Now let's get to know Anita a little better. Here we go!

Hi Anita! Welcome to The Diamond Mine!

When did you know you were going to be a writer?

I started creating stories when I was very young—always rambling plots that never had a conclusion. (I still have not mastered the art of the wrap-up. Or brevity.) In my wildest dreams, though, I never thought I would be published. But wait! I remember I won a contest in 5th grade for a fine arts festival, and the story was published in their mimeographed, stapled newsletter. I called the story ‘Mandy,’ which at the time I was convinced was the loveliest name in the world. And I had an essay published in 6th grade for a contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It was a patriotic essay which I no doubt sobbed over because I was quite emotional, and I won a 1924 silver dollar. Whad’ya know? I’ve been published more than I thought!

And you started pretty early, too! What’s the first story you remember writing?

An action-adventure story when I was about eight. I think the heroine was a girl who liked to climb trees and read and was bullied by a mean boy named Eli. I got about two pages written and asked my parents if I could read it to them. They got suspicious when the tale went on for a good twenty minutes. Yep. I was making it up as I went along. 

That's a cute memory! So, who are your writing influences?

Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters. Josephine Tey.

Interesting picks. I think I read all the Mary Stewart books in the local library and loved them! Do lots of people still go to the library? I hope so! One of my favorite places. (My Mom's a retired librarian.)

Anyway, how do you get your story ideas?

I’m supposed to have STORY ideas? Maybe that is my problem. I start with a first line—literally—and see where it takes me. I haven’t a clue as to what the story is about. But I sure have that first line clearly defined in my head!

That is so cool! Do you work from an outline, or craft the story as you go?

(Well this was typical. I answered the question before you even asked it.) If I had to outline a book I would never write, and take up something relaxing. Knitting custom-made sweaters for cobras, maybe. And ‘craft’ is too generous a word. The story line and I slap each other around and argue and backtrack and we both accuse each other of never looking at a map. My husband has come in on me shouting at the computer numerous times, something along the lines of “How on earth am I supposed to make THAT plot twist work out?”

You're cracking me up! I thought I was the only one who argued story lines with my computer. 

Now give us a few sentences about “Hounded.”

‘Hounded’ opens with the funeral of a wealthy, respected man, survived by his emotionally distant family and his very young second wife. Elise married him for his money—she’s pretty blunt about that—because after the death of her first husband she decided marrying for love was no longer an option. She inherits his two mixed-breed dogs, a lot of his money, his family’s mistrust, the suspicions of the police and the threat that she might be the next in line to die. Into her very messy life comes an old friend, now a pastor, who wants to help her, emotionally and physically and spiritually. Elise not only faces pressure from Russ, who has God on his side, but from an unknown someone who for an unknown reason is trying to get her out of the way.

It sounds so intriguing! 

Are the main characters anything like you or anyone you know?

No. Elise is feisty and speaks her mind, very unlike me. Not everyone who reads ‘Hounded’ warms to her right away. Russ, her pastor friend, is inspired in a small way by a co-worker from way back named Russ, a decent, honorable man with a sense of humor.

What do you like best about your main characters?

Oh, I like that Elise is a chatterbox. Silence drives her crazy. She is so human, and what others see as strength and sass is really a coping mechanism for a life spinning out of control. She loves her dogs. Always a good character trait.

And Russ is just a peach. His confidence comes from knowing he isn’t perfect, but the God he serves is. I like that he doesn’t take anything too seriously except what concerns his faith.

It will be fun to see them interact! 

Since this is a “Love Is…” novella, and your theme is Love is patient, how hard was it to create a story around that theme?

Pretty easy, actually. I wrote it in a month! So by expending great amounts of impatience with everything (and everyone) around me, driven by panic and realizing that without God’s patience we’d all be lost, I bulldozed my way through and my characters (probably watching me anxiously over their shoulders) cooperated.

Sounds like you were inspired! What are you working on now? 

My first book, ‘Winter Watch’ was set in a fictional town called Barley. I’m finishing up ‘A Barley Christmas’ with many of the same characters, and then will resume ‘A Late Winter Poison’ that picks up in Barley a week after ‘Winter Watch’ left off.

Well, this was a fun interview. Thanks, Anita!

 Thanks for having me! Great questions!

Okay readers, here's a short excerpt from "Hounded":

The remote was nowhere. Not by the television, in a nearby drawer or on top of the refrigerator. Seized by an almost febrile need for televised entertainment, Elise tore through every drawer and cupboard in search of the elusive remote, then tried to turn the TV on without it. She couldn’t find a power button, much less a knob to change channels. The glassy black screen reflected her own irritated image. And a face leering over her shoulder.

Ooh, I love this! Really grabbed my attention! Here's a short bio on Anita:

Anita Klumpers, wife, mom and grandma, homeschooled her three sons for seventeen years and emerged relatively unscathed. Her life then and now is remarkable by its very ordinariness. She’s been blessed with a husband who is good and hardworking, a church that is small but gospel-driven, children who for every step back took two forward. 

With her youngest son launched into college, she wondered what an unorganized procrastinator could do to make the world a better place. Convinced that a bit of humor and a dose of prudishness were a good place to begin she started to blog, first as ‘The Prude Disapproves’ (http://theprudedisapproves.blogspot.com) and now at ‘The Tuesday Prude.’ (http://thetuesdayprude.com) She goes for coffee with friends frequently, writes skits and teaches drama classes seasonally, cleans the top of her fridge occasionally and marvels at God’s grace daily.

Anita’s first book, a romantic suspense titled ‘Winter Watch’ was released in January 2014 and her second, (let’s call it a suspense-romance for the sake of variety) ‘Hounded’ was released in e-book on February 5, 2016. Both are published through Prism Book Group.

Currently at work on a third novel, this one a romantically-tinged novel of suspense, she would accomplish more if she spent less time admiring her small but oh-so-brilliant grandsons.

Here are some links for her books:

http://www.amazon.com/Hounded-Anita-Klumpers-ebook/dp/B01ACFCNFC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455080613&sr=1-1&keywords=anita+klumpers

http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Watch-Anita-Klumpers-ebook/dp/B00HZ5R7WM/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455080613&sr=1-3&keywords=anita+klumpers

"Love Is" in the Air at Prism Book Group! (Giveaway!!!)

Prism Book Group

Launches

"Love Is" Series in February!

PRISM BOOK GROUP

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Diamond Mine! This week, I have something great to share with you. Prism Book Group's launching an awesome series this month. Different books written by a multitude authors, including many of your favorites featured right here on the Mine, will be released throughout the year (refer to schedule at the end of the post). Without further ado, I'll hand the floor over to Joan Alley, business manager and head editor of Prism Book Group so we can hear in her own words where she received the idea for this series.

She's also offering a Prism e-book to one winner who chats it up! So let us know what you think about the series and Prism Book Group, folks!

Renee: Hello Joan! Welcome to the Diamond Mine. Please tell us...where did you get the idea for this awesome series of novellas?

Joan: Thank you for having me, Renee. I know you are busy and we have a lot to tell your readers about so let's get started, shall we? As for my inspiration for the series?

1 Corinthians 13.

It’s a bible verse commonly read at weddings and anniversaries. It’s even been put to song.

And it was, in fact, a song that originally inspired the idea for the Love Is series. A bible school song for children that posed the question - what is love?

In this verse, the bible tells us love is many things – and is also not many things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

The perfect recipe for a healthy relationship. It tells us that love isn’t just a feeling, but action. We cannot offer love to each other if we are not acting in love.

What better basis than that for a series of romantic stories?

Each of these stories explore one facet of the bible verse, and how we love better – in all our relationships. For Jesus told us, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Renee: How many books do the readers have to look forward to this year?

Joan: Fifteen...yes, fifteen different novellas will be released in the "Love Is" series. Readers will be able to read the first four this month...Hounded by Anita Klumpers, Clue into Kindness by Gay N Lewis, Greener Grasses by Julie Cosgrove, and A Work in Progress by Nancy Bolton.

_____________________________

February Releases for the Series!

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Release Feb 5

Elise Amberson’s husbands always die before she can get the marriage momentum going. At least this last one left her with lots of money. Now she can hang out with her dogs, avoid men, and try to keep off God’s radar.

But her dogs are behaving oddly, a pesky pastor can’t keep his hands off her soul, and God is backing her into a corner.

It’s all more than a rich, beautiful young woman should have to bear. But when someone begins targeting Elise, she’ll have to figure out why before she becomes the late Widow Amberson.

Release Feb 12

Georgia loves her husband, Alan. She shows him kindness with actions and words, but Alan responds in a heartless, selfish way. To receive respect and admiration from people, he believes he must have a perfect wife—so he criticizes Georgia at every opportunity—even tells her she’s fat! Alan’s best friend Ken and his wife Jana reassure Georgia that she remains the gorgeous beauty queen she was during her college days. Who will Georgia believe—her friends or the mysterious, handsome stranger who comes into her life? Circumstances bring a change to Alan’s attitude. But is it too late to save this marriage?

Release Feb 19

Twin sisters, Erin and Ellen, covet each other’s lives and husbands. Their festered envy has not only kept them at arm’s length for almost two decades, it has placed both on a precipice of divorce— something they’d never admit to each other. Yet after two weeks together with their spouses, as they sort through their mother’s belongings following her funeral, they discover the flaws in their sibling’s “grass-greener” lives. But will that revelation help each sister appreciate her own husband and lifestyle as truly according to God’s plan? Or is it too late for a change of heart?

Release Feb 26

There’s something cooking outside the kitchen….

They’ve worked together for two years, but that’s all they have in common. Like oil and water, they just don’t mix. Julie thinks he’s a shallow flirt, Mark thinks she’s a cold fish. Despite their mutual dislike, they’ve carved out a civil work relationship at the restaurant. But after each of their inner worlds suffer a jolt; the careful, polite kitchen routine becomes a stew of conflicting emotions. Things are about to get interesting.

"LOVE IS" Novellas on the Horizon

#	Verse	Title	Author	RD
1	Love is patient	Hounded	Anita Klumpers	FEB 5th
2	Love is kind	Clue Into Kindness	Gay Lewis	FEB 12th
3	Love does not envy	Greener Grasses	Julie Cosgrove	FEB 19th
4	Love does not boast	Work In Progress	Nancy Bolton	FEB 26th
5	Love is not proud	Everything About You	Lisa Lickel	MAR 25th
6	Love does not dishonor others	Crux of Honor	Paula Mowery	APR 29th
7	Love is not self-seeking	Navy Blues	Julie Cosgrove	MAY 27th
8	Love is not easily angered	Love Makes Waves	Gail Pallotta	JUN 24th
9	Love keeps no record of wrongs	Evidence Not Seen	Carlene Havel	JUL 15th
10	Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth	The Baron's Blunder	Susan Baganz	AUG 26th
11	Love always protects	(To Be Determined)	Nancy Bolton	SEP 30th
12	Love always trusts	Racing Hearts	Renee Blare	OCT 28th
13	Love always hopes	Hoping for Joy	Penelope Marzec	DEC 16th
14	Love perseveres	(To Be Determined)	Jacqueline Hopper	JAN 2017 TBD
15	Love never fails	For Better or for Worse	Paige Skeen	FEB 2017 TBD

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"LOVE IS" GIVEAWAY

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Prism Book Group

is giving away

one e-book

to 

ONE

winner!

Comment below to be eligible to win one e-book from the entire Prism Book Group inventory (see www.prismbookgroup.com) which includes the four "LOVE IS" series novellas now available for pre-order on Amazon!