Latest Cozy Mystery Series from Author Julie B. Cosgrove

 Good morning all you Diamonds in Fiction fans. This week I want to again introduce you to one of my favorite authors in the whole world—JULIE COSGROVE!!!!

 Besides being good friends, I am a super fan of this talented and magnificent author!

Julie, I’m delighted to be able to feature today not only you, but the first book of your latest cozy mystery series WORD HAS IT! From the first sentence I knew this was the crème de la crème I’d been waiting for. Welcome to the Diamond Mine dear friend!

 Aww, thanks. I am blushing now. Can you believe this is fiction work #16??  I was first published in 2010, so I feel very blessed to have landed so many contracts.

 For those of you who don’t know, Julie is a multi-dimensional author, a kaleidoscope of genres, many award-winning!  She writes devotionals, cozy mysteries, has written three suspense novels on human trafficking, as well as Bible studies, and…well, Julie give our readers the cliff-note trip through your writing successes.

 I first wrote Focused in 2008, which was a romance of a different sort. It is about an empty nest couple who have drifted apart. Throughout the course f the book, they find out why they fell in love to begin with by focusing on the good things. and it was picked up in 2010. Then after reading Richard Maas’ book on to how to write a breakout novel, I decided in 2009 to write a suspense romance, Hush in the Storm. But by the third chapter I hit a wall and prayed on it. I wanted to convey a message, but what?? Over the next month, three different Spirit-led scenarios introduced me to the plight of human trafficking (at the time it was not a household word). The plot about a young widow who begins to discover her husband’s accident was not that at all began to quickly emerge. I got several nibbles but no bites from agents and publishers. Then I read an advertisement about Prism Books expanding into suspense romance and accepting queries. Within 48 hours I was under contract!

The editor in chief then contracted me to write two sequels, then three romance novellas over the next three years, and after that the four-book series called the Bunco Biddies Mysteries between 2015-2018. The Bunco Biddies novels are set in a 55 plus community and features 12 senior women who share recipes, play dice games, and solve a few crimes along the way. They are light-hearted but each features a social awareness issue, as do all my fictional works. I want to entertain but also hope my readers leave with knowledge of ways they can act, pray, and support nonprofit organizations that help people in tough situations. Jesus always met people in the middle of their messes and I believe we are called to follow in His footsteps.

Anyway, Prism was sold to a larger publishing house, so I decide to contract with a new publisher, Write Integrity Press, whose editor-in-chief I’d met through American Christian Fiction Writers. At her request, I wrote three new cozy mysteries (my genre of choice to read and write) under the Relatively Seeking Mysteries―One Leaf Too Many, Fallen Leaf, and Leaf Me Alone. These featured three thirty-something friends who delve into genealogies and discover family secrets some don’t want revealed. They were written following the Hallmark formula, which is so popular.

But my heart remained with senior sleuths, so Write Integrity Press approved and contracted six books in the Wordplay Mysteries. Word Has It is the first one. Books two and three are in various stages of editing and I am starting to write book four.

 I’d love to pick a favorite, but I’d be here all day arguing with myself …I love them all! It’s amazing how God has guided you every step of the way through your writing career. Can you share a little about how you started writing and how you’ve arrived at this latest series?

 I began writing as a freelance writer because my late husband was transferred a lot in his career in structural construction. Therefore, whenever I had access to the internet I could work. I also contracted to write devotionals for several publications and did so for ten years. I still have a devotional blog, https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday, which has a good following in about 50 countries, and for five years (2015-2020) I wrote and edited for a digitally-based missionary group out of Canada, a division of CRU.

But fiction has always been my secret passion so I gave it a try. A professor friend of my sister’s read Focused and said I had potential but needed to hone my craft. I spent the next few years attending writer’s workshops and conferences, and also reading “how to write faith-based fiction” books. Like most newbie writers, I wrote many drafts during those early years until a publisher picked me up. 

I have always loved mysteries, and after I wrote the suspense and romances for Prism, my sister asked me why I didn’t write what I loved. Prism had never published that genre but gave me a shot with Dumpster Dicing, the first Bunco Biddies Mystery. It won Best Cozy Mystery in Texas 2017, and by then I had been contracted to write the rest in the series. I have been writing cozies ever since.

 In the early writing days, I was always advised, don’t change genres. Those established writers, “Each time you change genres it’s like beginning to build your fan base again.” Any truth to that statement?

 There is some truth to that. But in actuality, I have more migrated than switched. With Prism, I wrote romance, even though some of it was suspense.  The leap from suspense to mystery is not a huge one, and I include a flavoring of romance in the mysteries to add depth to my plots and characters. 

I think it would be hard to, for example, write historical romances and then switch to sci-fi or fantasy. Genres that far apart rarely have carry-over audiences. I do know some mystery writers who write various genres under several pen names, though. Still, it take a lot of marketing efforts to keep your name in front of so many audiences.

 And can I gather that cozy mysteries are your favorite genre?

 Without a doubt. I feel I have found my niche so I plan to keep writing them. If I am not writing them, I am reading them or watching them, especially the British series. I don’t mind reading historical novels and Biblically based ones, and a few YA’s (there, now I have confessed that!) but as a widow in her late sixties, romances just do not hit my hot button like suspense and mysteries. I prefer cozies because they are clean, have fun, quirky characters you get to know and love, and concentrate on solving the crime rather than committing the crime itself.

For those new Diamond Mine followers, can you share just a few words about how God called you to write? Did you always know you were meant to write?

 Three friends from three different states suggested I try writing for a living. They said my articles for church newsletters and even my personal letters showed a propensity for creative writing. I had taken that in school and excelled at it, winning a few awards. I prayed on it and felt somewhat confident God was leading me this way.

Now, I know the Holy Spirit “sits on my shoulders” when I get in my writing zone. Still working full-time, I must carve out writing time on weekends. I get antsy when I feel that prompting in my soul. My family understands when that happens, I am not available unless it is an emergency. Often times, I’ll sit down at the computer with a cuppa in the morning and then look up, astonished that it is after supper time. I am a panster, which means I have a vague idea of the overall plot but create the twists and turns as I go.

As I write, I marvel at where the Spirit leads me. Unraveling the mystery along with my main character is so much fun. I wouldn’t write any other way. By God’s merciful grace, the plot seems to always resolve, red herrings and all. That is when I know I have been steadily in His will.

 I’m sure we have many visiting the Diamond Mine today who are familiar with your work but haven’t heard from you recently. It’s obvious you survived the winter Texas storm of 2021, how rough was that storm in Ft. Worth?

 Not bad in my neck of the woods. Other than seven inches of ice and snow layered upon each other, we never lost power or water. I was able to work remotely the whole time. Others in Fort Worth were not as lucky, but all I know survived and that is a blessing.

 And now for the truly good part…what’s next? Will there be more books featuring Scrub Oak, Texas, Wanda Lee Warner, and her rookie cop nephew, Todd? I sure hope so.

Absolutely. As I said, six are under contract. It is up to my publisher when they will feature over the next 3-4 years, though. Write Integrity Press has fourteen faith-based authors of all genres, fiction and non-fiction, and is now closed to adding any new ones. But they are still determined to produce one work a month, so I fit in the queue somewhere in all of that. They let me know the release month by the second edit and a firm date along with the author’s copy for a final proof. Anyway, the future books are:

Word Gets Around, In Other Words, Away with Words, A Loss for Words, Hang on Every Word

To wrap this up, I always like to ask successful authors to share a word of encouragement or a “get outta Dodge” comment for all new writers joining us today.

 Write for One person and let Him decide who reads the books. Never get caught up in the numbers game. If one soul is comforted or encouraged, so be it. You have done your job. God will do the rest. As the old hymn says, “Trust and obey, there is no other way.” Otherwise, you will become frustrated, envious, and stressed.  A myriad of other unfruitful and stifling emotions will creep inside of you, too, eating away at your creativity and enthusiasm.

Jesus’ followers had to learn from Him in order to serve Him well, therefore so must you. Keep an open mind and heart as you grow your talent. Don’t let pride get in the way and do not let the devil steal your joy!

 There you have it, folks! Thank you for sharing with us Julie. And I highly recommend WORD HAS IT! You won’t be disappointed!

 'Til Next Time…Keep reading and writing!

                                                                                                  DiANE

 

Real-Life Story Inspiration with Kelly Goshorn (& a Giveaway)

Hello reader friends! I'm very excited to introduce you to a debut author whose book I've already added to my TBR pile! Kelly Goshorn's A Love Restored is brand new this week. Historical fiction, romance, and more are in store for you! Be sure and enter the giveaway before you leave!

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith and family set in nineteenth-century America. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, received recognition as the winner of the 2015 COTT Olympia Contest and as a semi-finalist in the 2015 ACFW Genesis Contest. Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 27 years. Together they have raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, scrapbooking with friends, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.


You can connect with Kelly on:

Her website: http://kellygoshorn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.j.goshorn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGoshorn
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/KellyGoshorn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyjgoshorn/

SW: First of all, congratulations on your debut novel! We’re so pleased you could join us here at the mine and share a little about your journey.

KG: Hi Suzie, thanks so much for welcoming me here on The Diamond Mine. I’m excited to share A Love Restored with your readers.

SW: Let’s get right into it with a few multiple choice questions to warm us up!
Original draft: computer, paper, or phone?

KG: Computer

SW: Chocolate, vanilla, or something else? 

KG: I like vanilla based ice cream with lots of stuff in it—peanut butter cups, chocolate covered peanuts, M&Ms, coconut, chocolate chips…well, I’m sure by now you get the picture. Was this supposed to be a short answer! LOL!

SW: Anyone else craving ice cream all of a sudden? Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

KG: Fall

SW: Night owl or early bird?

KG: Early bird

SW: I'm always in awe of early birds (but, to tell the truth, I'm not really a night owl anymore either). Ok, now that we know a few surface things about you: When (or why) did you start writing? 

KG: Truthfully, I never saw it coming! So many writers I’ve talked to have wanted to be a writer since they were a child. Many have drawers full of half-written manuscripts. Me? Not so much. I had always enjoyed writing papers for my college classes, but I NEVER considered writing fiction. I’d been a successful in-home childcare provider for nearly twenty years, but I knew in my heart it was time to move on to something new. My husband and I began praying for God to give me a new direction, a new passion in my life I would undeniably know He’d planted in my heart. On a whim, I began tinkering with story writing and it didn’t take long for my secret hobby to become my God-given passion!

SW: I love that. You have a unique writing journey that proves there are multiple roads to publishing. Authors often say there’s no such thing as a consistent routine, but what would you like your writing day to look like? 

Levi and I working

KG: I’m still chasing the ideal writing day. As that rare breed, an extroverted writer, I am usually my own biggest distraction. When a friend texts to meet up for coffee or lunch I have a hard time saying no. I work from home in the afternoons as a virtual assistant, so the mornings are my time to focus on my writing. After a lifetime of being a night owl, I have recently been rising early to write. This has brought a great deal of discipline to my schedule that I never had before. On an ideal writing day, I set the alarm for 4:45 a.m. I hit the snooze a few times and begin the day talking with the Lord. Then I head for the kitchen and make a cup of tea, usually Earl Grey. My trusty companion, Levi (an adorable Welsh corgi), follows me downstairs and gets his morning treat. He can usually be found by my feet while I write. Before I begin, I pray. Writing is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and each day I ask God to come and inspire me and to tell the stories He wants told through me. By 8 a.m. I have usually met my daily word count. After I dress for the day, Levi and I head out for a walk. When we return home, I try to focus on other writerly tasks like editing, marketing, blogging and critiquing.

SW: Wow, I don't thing I've seen 4:45 am in years. I’m in awe of historical writers due to all the research. What drew you to this genre over contemporary or suspense? 

KG: Hahaha! I love that part and can get lost in so many historical rabbit trails while researching. I guess I’m just a big old-fashioned, nerdy, history-lovin’ kinda girl at heart! I’ve always loved history, even as a kid in school. In college, I earned a B.A. in social studies education and an M.Ed. in History. It’s my favorite genre to read as well and on my birthday, I enjoy dragging my children to historical sites and watching them cringe as I read every sign and placard! LOL!

SW: Maybe that's my problem, I was never a huge history buff. But, I love how it's brought to life in novels. Tell us a little about your road to publication. 

KG: God has blessed this journey in so many ways. I began writing in 2011. By 2013 I had a completed draft of A Love Restored and joined a critique group through American Christian Fiction Writers.  In 2014, A Love Restored finaled in ACFW’s First Impressions contest. In 2015, that was followed by winning the COTT Olympia, a reader-driven contest, and finaling in the WisRWA Fab 5 and the Tara, along with a semi-final nod in the ACFW Genesis contest. At the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference that same year, I had the opportunity to pitch my story to several agents and editors. I was blessed to have several requests for full manuscripts. A few weeks later, I received a call from one of the editors I’d met, Paula Mowery. A weeks later she called and offered me a contract with Prism Book Group. I was floored. She’d never read the entire manuscript. From all the contests I’d entered, the first few chapters were well-polished, but no industry professional had read the entire manuscript. When I questioned why she didn’t want the full manuscript first she said, “I have a God nudge and I like to follow my God nudges.” I’m so glad she did!

SW: God nudge, I love it! Here is your chance to acknowledge those who’ve walked alongside of you in the writing process. Who is your tribe? Who supports you, reads along with you, helps you out of a difficult place in your story, etc. 

KG: I’m so blessed to have a husband who supports this crazy writing journey of mine, in fact it was his idea to write A Love Restored. I also have a loyal group of friends who, are not writers, that regularly pray for my writing journey and read all my stuff—my sister, Cindy Scott, and dear friends Becky Redman, Steph Sloan and Colleen Hoernke. Colleen has read and critiqued my story so many times, I think she knows it as well as I do! My first critique partners through American Christian Fiction Writers—Angela Couch, Sarah Monzon, Tammy Kirby, Crystal Barnes, Jodie Wolfe, Jessica Konek Johnson and Linda Cushman. Where I’d be without those wonderful women, I do not know. And keeping me faithful to this writing journey are my early morning writing buddies, Megan Whitson Lee and Debb Hackett!


SW: Some of those critique partner names are familiar. What a fantastic group to get input and feedback from. I’m so excited that your heroine in A Love Restored is not the svelte character in so many (too many?) books. What influenced that decision?

Kelly and her groom

KG: You’re right, Suzie. The heroine in most romance novels does not resemble me or most of the women I see around me, but the primary reason Ruth Ann has a fuller figure is that A Love Restored is based on the true-life romance between my husband and myself. Ruth Ann is me in so many ways. She is stubborn, always seems to find herself in a pickle, and is definitely on the rounder side of feminine figures. I have struggled with weight issues my entire life and that struggle plays an important part in our story. Ruth Ann’s biggest weakness is not seeing herself as the beautiful, Godly woman she is. Her journey to self-acceptance is at the heart of the story.

SW: I think women need that reminder. And since we gave Ruth Ann some love, tell us a little about Benjamin.

KG: Now that you know A Love Restored is based on my story, you would be right to assume that Benjamin is based on my husband, Mike. Like my husband, Benjamin makes Ruth Ann laugh, holds her accountable to herself and is very generous with his time and talents. He is extremely intelligent, and like Benjamin, my husband wooed me with his guitar and teases me about my not-so-stellar singing voice. Like Benjamin, my husband struggled with his pride and let vows, words he’d spoken over himself, dictate his choices. Benjamin’s journey is about finding the courage to challenge society’s idea of what success looks like and trusting God’s plan for his life.

SW: What do you hope readers come away with after reading A Love Restored? 

KG: At its core, A Love Restored is a story about the power of words in our lives. It is a story about the struggle each of us faces to take our thoughts captive to the truth of Scripture, so we may experience the fullness of God’s unequivocal love for us.

Words have the power to lift us up and tear us down, and the most dangerous ones are the ones we repeat in our own mind every day. I spent way too many years repeating words of death to myself—that I was fat, ugly, unlovable and unworthy of the very God I believed sacrificed His son on my behalf.

1 Samuel 16:7b says, For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. My prayer for you and your readers is that you will not allow the enemy to steal the joy that is rightfully yours as a child of God. Speak the truth of the gospel over yourself every day and ask God to give you His eyes to see yourself as He does.

SW: Amen! Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?

KG: I’m very excited about the series I’m working on now, Surrendered Hearts. Set in Civil War Virginia, the series examines what happens when God calls us to surrender those things we hold most dear. Characters are called to sacrifice their dreams and ambitions, their pride, and ultimately their hearts as God recklessly pursues each of them. Hearts and wills are challenged, and lives transformed as characters experience restoration with one another and with God. If readers are interested in learning more, the can visit the Surrendered Hearts page on my website.

SW: Thank you for visiting with us today and may God bless your writing career.

KG: Thank you, Suzie. I had such a wonderful time sharing my writing journey with your readers.

More about A Love Restored

She was nothing like the woman he’d envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she’d ever dreamed of—until a promise from his past threatened their future.

Twenty-year-old Ruth Ann Sutton doesn’t measure up to society’s vision of a perfect lady. She would rather read Jules Verne or teach Negro children to read and write than join the Women’s Benevolent Aid Society or practice her voice lessons. Her pert opinions and less than perfect figure keep many suitors away. When Ruth Ann accepts a position teaching at the new Freedman’s School, it threatens the only marriage offer she is likely to receive. Should she risk life as a lonely spinster or reinvent herself to accept a proposal from a man she does not love?

Determined to rise above his meager beginnings, Benjamin Coulter’s reputation as a fast learner and hard worker earn him the opportunity to apprentice with a surveyor for the railroad—a position that will garner the respect of other men. All he needs now is a woman to share his promising future. When Benjamin has a chance encounter with Ruth Ann Sutton, he is smitten with her pretty face, quick wit, and feisty personality. When others ridicule his choice, Benjamin must decide whether he will listen to his heart or put ambition first.

Order from your copy here

Giveaway

Kelly Goshorn is giving one reader a book charm with a quote from her debut and a copy of A Love Restored (Paperback if you are in the US, Ebook if you are international). To enter, leave a comment below along with a way to contact you if you are our randomly chosen winner. For an extra entry, follow Kelly on social media or sign up for her newsletter and let us know you've done that as well. Plus, if you sign up for her newsletter, you'll get a sugar cookie recipe (yummy!).

Book Charms for A Love Restored

***Must be five unique commenters for giveaway to be valid.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas...in April!

Yes, you read that title right! And Merry Christmas to you. What's better than reading about snow and presents on a sunny April day? Today amongst the merrymaking, we have author Emily Paige Skeen. She is sharing her Christmas novella, Saving Apple Blossom Ranch. (Hence the Christmas chatter. J) And she's agreed to give away a free present, a copy of this very book! Ho, ho, ho.

PT:  Welcome, Emily! So thankful you've stopped by to spread a little holiday cheer! On such a beautiful day, describe what a perfect morning looks like to you? 

EPS:  As a stay-at-home mama of two small children, I don’t see many “perfect” mornings. I suppose an ideal writing morning for me would include complete silence, a steaming cup of coffee (that I haven’t reheated a million times), a peaceful view of nature, and ideas flowing freely in my mind.

Of course, the likelihood of that happening is slim, so I’ve learned to write around the chaos of life. Now what I consider perfect looks like this: little hands reaching for me, silly giggles interrupting my train of thought, big hugs, and sloppy kisses. Although it’s sometimes frustrating, I remind myself often that there are people in this world who would give anything to have a little one disrupting their work. And I wouldn’t trade it for a million silent mornings.  

PT:  Getting to the real message of, ahem, Christmas, what is your favorite Bible verse? 

EPS:  I have several, but one I often think of when I’m discouraged is Jeremiah 29:11. It says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It reminds me that God wants me to succeed and that He’ll give me a future better than I could possibly dream up, if I’ll only turn to Him.

PT:  What an absolutely wonderful sentiment for any time of the year! So back to Christmas, where did you get the idea for Saving Apple Blossom Ranch?

EPS:  My publisher, Prism Book Group, was doing a series called “A Cowboy Christmas.” I was born and raised in a small southern town, but I’ve never actually lived on a farm or ranch. My husband and I recently bought some land and had a house built in an area that’s mostly farmland, so we’re surrounded by livestock. Driving into town, to my daughter’s school, or anywhere else, we pass cows, horses, goats, etc. along the way.

I absolutely love remote areas, and I’ve always been intrigued by the farming lifestyle. So, I decided to pitch an idea for the Christmas series. It was contracted, and I dug my heels in.

Before beginning to write Saving Apple Blossom Ranch, I did a lot—and I mean a LOT—of research about cattle ranches, specifically those in Georgia since that’s where the story takes place. I spent many late nights researching everything from how to breed cattle to the exact responsibilities of a foreman...and anything in-between that I could find.

During the process of writing Saving Apple Blossom Ranch, I not only fell in love with Savannah and Bo, but also with ranch life in general.

PT:  Wow! You are thorough! And research always deepens a novel. Now for my fav segment. Tell 5 things fast about Emily Paige Skeen that have nothing to do with writing. And go!

EPS:

1. I have an obsession with all things “old”: antique furniture, oldies music, vintage jewelry, classic literature, black and white movies and TV shows.

2. I love to shop, be pampered, and wear high heels...but I’m a country girl at heart.

3. I’d rather listen to crickets chirping than cars zooming by.

4. I hate doors being left open, especially cabinet doors.

5. I thoroughly enjoy getting scared silly by horror movies or paranormal shows.

PT:  Fans are looking forward not only to Christmas time, (only 243 days left!) but also to what your future plans are. Is there another book on the horizon? 

EPS:  Most definitely! I have a novel-length follow-up to “Saving Apple Blossom Ranch” in the works, but it may be put on hold as I dip my toes in the water of the mystery/thriller genre. I don’t want to give anything away, but I’m excited to step a bit out of my comfort zone for my next book. I’m currently praying for direction as I decide what project should get my immediate attention next.

PT: Sounds fascinating! Fans will be thrilled to see your next release. And now, it is your time. If you want to sit on that swing, in the sunshine brushed by a wisp of a breeze, your nose dug in to Christmas with Saving Apple Blossom Ranch, leave a comment and your email! We want to hear from you! And God bless us everyone.

Diamond Mine's Renee Blare Releases a New Novella!

No, you're not experiencing déjà vu. You read that title correctly! Our own Renee Blare has sent out another release! Crazy Woman Christmas is just what you need to usher in a the holiday spirit. Stick around and I'll tell you how you can be part of a Renee's giveaway!

PT:  Hi, Renee. As always, absolutely love your new release! What catches my eye is the title. What inspired that?

RB: Believe it or not, Crazy Woman Creek is a real live place! The title of my Christmas novella was taken from a sliver of water that cuts a deep ravine through the rock of the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. The canyon left behind is named after the creek, Crazy Woman Canyon. As for who this canyon was named after, that is a mystery. A couple of theories float about. One is that an Indian woman went insane in the canyon and the other is about an old settler woman. Either way, nobody really knows the origin of the name.

PT:  So I know this is part of Prism's Cowboy Christmas series. So what Bible verse did you base this on?

RB:  2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Bianca and Devon are at a crossroads in their lives. They have decisions to make. Do they stay mired in the past or do they move forward into the unknown future? Bianca has a past of pain and hurt with her parents which hangs like an anchor around her neck. It keep her from moving forward even though the Lord has promised that all of her sins have been forgiven. Devon clings to the past, clinging to his parent’s ranch as his reason for living. He pushes all things aside including his own dreams until Bianca’s presence reminds him of what he’s missing.

PT: So what inspired this story?

RB: I love Christmas but many people have a hard time celebrating this amazing holiday, even Christians. I wanted to explore some of those reasons and Crazy Woman Christmas does that. (You’ll have to read the story if you want to see how!) Grief is a major component but other things are discussed as well. I celebrate Christmas to honor my Savior’s birthday, and to me, that’s the only reason to do so. The day we take Jesus Christ out of Christmas is the day it no longer is Christmas.

PT: Since we're in the midst of the Christmas season, I can resist asking this question. What is the best Christmas gift you've ever received?

RB: My best Christmas gift? Wow, do you know how old I am? I’ve been given so many awesome gifts! How do I choose? My Kindle? Tablet? I guess I’d have to say my best gift would have to be the camera my husband gave me a couple of Christmases ago. I love it! I’m still figuring it out though.

PT: Renee, I can't tell you how proud we all are here at the Diamond Mine! You're getting quite a list of titles under your belt now! And of course, you fans want to know the answer to the million dollar question. What's Renee Blare's next writing direction?

RB: I’m actually working on two manuscripts right now. The next book in my Snowy Range Chronicles and a story that my husband and I are putting together about the end-times. I’m excited about what the Lord is doing as I work with James to brainstorm on the one and write the other. I can’t wait to start writing on the collaboration book. I should begin doing that any day.

PT:  And here it is! What a great cover! Thanks Renee, for joining us today. Here's how you can win a copy of Renee's newest book. Leave your name and email and one will be chosen! Best of luck!

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/

Dumpster Dicing with Julie Cosgrove on the Diamond Mine (with Giveaway)

No…not dumpster diving. Climb on out of the garbage, and let’s get started. It’s time for fun and mystery with Julie Cosgrove on the Diamond Mine.

Prism Book Group brings us a brand new series called the Bunco Biddies and Julie’s chattin’ it up on the Mine. Join us as we talk about this new book as well as her writing. Oh…and check out the fabulous giveaway at the end of it all!

RB: Hi Julie, welcome to the Diamond Mine. I’m so excited about your new release! I know it’s a cozy mystery and a series…can you tell us how you came up with the idea?

JC: My sister knows how much of a mystery buff I am and challenged me to write one. I mulled over it for some time and came up with a plot about a group of retirees in a Plus 55 Community. Being in the early stages of that age group myself, I wanted to honor them. They’re not “out to pasture” but life-wise, fun-loving and creative folk. Sixty is the new “forty.” People are living longer and those in their last decades still have a lot to contribute. I write about their common trepidations about aging and diminishing, but also to show they are still vital members of society.

I queried an editor at a conference and she confirmed I had the basic formula for a cozy mystery—an untrained sleuth solves the murder through observation and common sense.  I knew I wanted to make it light-hearted…yes, murder can be just that, in a quirky sort of way. It is not the act of murder that draws the reader in because that has already occurred. It is the interaction of the loveable characters as they slowly unravel the reason why it happened. That’s why they are fun to write, and read.

RB: Oh, I love mysteries. I like to try to figure them out as I go. Do you have a favorite part?

JC: Janie, one of the Bunco Biddies, is a widow of an Austin Police Detective. Now her daughter is married to the Chief Detective Blake Johnson of Alamoville, which is a booming bedroom town nearby. Janie sees him overworked and unable to spend quality time with his family. His marriage is suffering for it, so she rallies the Bunco players in her retirement community to help her solve the crime for him, without his permission of course. My favorite scene is between her and Blake when he begins to realize she truly has a knack for crime solving.

RB: I love it! “Without his permission…” I bet they have him chasing his tail! These characters sound absolutely amazing! Can you tell us about your characters?

JC: I love all the main Bunco Biddies—Janie, Ethel and Betsy Ann. Janie is smart, a natural born leader and determined to do things her way, thank you very much. Ethel is the quieter book worm but has some great insights. Betsy Ann is a bit ditzy but “has a heart as big as Dallas”, as they say in my neck of the woods. Together, they each bring their talents to the table.

RB: With these awesome Biddies, how on earth did you pick a setting?

JC: Texas has a good many retirement communities which cover acres and acres of land. They are like small towns. They have graduated living from independent to full nursing care. Many have amenities such as golf courses, tennis courts, hike trails and even their own libraries, beauty parlors and recreation centers. Sunset Acres is fictional, but it is based on one of these communities where I did a book signing a few years back.

RB: Well then…that’s that! You’re so smart! One more question about formulating the book before we move on…how did you come up with your awesome title?

JC: I wanted to make it “punny”, to show the light-humored aspect of the book. So I chose a play on words. Dumpster because that is where the body is discovered and Dicing because he was chopped up, but also because Bunco is a dice game.

RB: I’ve never played Bunco. You’ll have to fill me in on the rules, but that’s for another time. Can you share something special story about writing this particular book? Did you learn anything in particular? 

JC: My previous publisher, Prism Book Group, has never produced a mystery series before, even though some of their authors write them.  I assumed they wouldn’t be interested. I wrote out the synopses and the first three chapters of the first book, Dumpster Dicing, and then spent months querying other publishers. I got “nibbles” but nothing solid. I almost chucked the idea for the three books in the trash. I began to think I was shooting beyond the moon. Why did I think I could write a cozy mystery? I slunk into a pouty pity party. Then I prayed on it and got the message—query your editor at Prism. What can she say? No?

Okay, God, but…to my surprise, my editor loved the synopses of each and within two days I had a three book contract. Then with trepidation, I sent the manuscript to four renowned mystery writers and they all gave me glowing endorsements, including Mary Daheim, my personal favorite cozy mystery writer. Wow.

It just goes to show you have to be bold enough to pray and then act on the message you receive. Don’t let negative thinking shackle you.  

RB: You’re so right, Julie. We are our own worst enemies. I don’t know how often I’ve written something and tossed it in the trashcan. I wonder if I’d only kept going, or passed it by my critique group, it may have been something amazing. That piece of “garbage” could have turned into a book. Instead, I gave up. I did the one thing I tell new writers NOT to do. Speaking of new writers, do you have any advice for those trying to find their legs in this field?

JC: Three things:

1.      Write it. If God is calling you to do so, then you should obey.

2.      Master the craft. Join a supportive critique group with published authors and listen to their advice, even though they may hurt your feelings in the process. If there isn’t one in your community, go online. Attend what conferences you can afford and read books on the art of crafting a good story. DiAn Mills’ The Dance of Character and Plot is good, as is Richard Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel. Talent has to be developed.

3.      The third thing is to realize that writing the novel is just the beginning. I liken it to the honeymoon and conception. Prepare for at least nine months of development before it is “born” or it may be immature and not thrive in the marketplace. Land a traditional publisher or hire a great editor who will work with you.

RB: What’s your biggest challenge as an author?

JC: Social media marketing—the necessary evil. It can suck your time away from writing. The world is inundated with novels nowadays due to the ease of indy-pubbing. Amazon produces more books in one day than it did in a year two decades ago with almost solely traditional publishing methods. However, fewer people are reading as a hobby. So it is harder and harder to get your works noticed. That is why I am thankful for fellow authors like you, Renee, who help get the word out.

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MAGNIFICENT MYSTERY GIVEAWAY

Two eBooks of Dumpster Dicing are up for grabs! Comment below for a chance to win!

Two winners will be chosen from the blog comments by random draw one week from blogpost date.

(Special note: selected winners are eligible for a free eBook of Baby Bunco, the next release in the series if he (she) posts a review on Amazon.com and on Goodreads by September 2016.)

Minimum of 5 comments required to validate contest.

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About the Book:

                      

As Janie and Betsy Ann go for their morning jog, the city sanitation vehicle follows its normal five-mile Tuesday morning route through their retirement community of Sunset Acres. The two Bunco-playing biddies spot a leg dangling out of the dumpster when the truck lifts the trash container high in the air. Someone diced up one of their newest residents—a grouchy loner named Edwin Newman. Did he unpack too much of his dicey past when he moved in last weekend?

About the Author:

Freelance writer, author and speaker Julie B Cosgrove leads retreats, workshops, and Bible studies. She writes regularly for several Christian websites and publications.

Besides freelance writing and helping newbie writers on their path to publishing, Julie has personally published three Bible studies,two inspirational works, a devotional and a novel - Focused (2012), as well as the following through Prism Book Group: Hush in the Storm (2014) and Legitimate Lies (2015- Best 2016 Religious Fiction Award), Freed to Forgive (2015 - Grace Award Finalist) with Greener Grasses, Navy Blues, Hill Country Homecoming and a three book cozy mysteries series, The Bunco Biddies coming in 2016-2017.

She is a member of North Texas Christian Writers, Texas Association of Authors, Advanced Writers and Speakers, American Christian Fiction Writers, Toastmasters International, Daughters of the Holy Cross and several web-based author groups Julie has one grown son and lives in Fort Worth, TX with two cats.

Visit her website at www.juliebcosgrove.com or her blog: WhereDidYouFindGodToday.com.

Books published -

P.R.A.Y.I.N.G.- Bringing Power and Purpose to Your Prayers (2009)

Song Notes - Devotionals from Verses in the Psalms (2010)

What Can She Tell Us? (2011)

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness (2011)

Focused-A Novel (2012)

Between the Window and the Door (2012)

Squeeze More God-time Into Your Day (2013)

Hush in the Storm (August 2014)

Legitimate Lies (Jan 2015)

Freed to Forgive (October 2015)

Experiencing the Present of God's Presence (2015)

Navy Blues (May 2016)

Greener Grasses (Feb 2016)

Dumpster Dicing (June 2016)

Hill Country Homecoming (Nov 2016)

Baby Bunco (Jan 2017)