Saturday, October 25, 2014

Do You Prefer Books or Bookes?

books and fantasy photo: girl and her books book_of_romance_by_breathing2004.jpg


I recently decided to slightly change the font color on the back cover of one of my paperbacks, “Baggage Claim.” Unfortunately, what should be a quick, simple task often turns into something much more time-consuming and difficult. The website messed up, and I ended up needing to redo the entire cover. Finally finished, I signed, sealed, and delivered the book and then ordered myself a copy that I needed to personally deliver. Two days later, my book arrived. The new font color looked great, along with everything else. Then I turned the book on its spine and read the words, “Booke One.”

I just started laughing. The typo was entirely my fault, and by this time, the only thing I can do about my frequent, ridiculous screw-ups is to laugh. You see, this is not something new. I am not one of those special people who seems to glide gracefully through life getting everything right. Instead, I manage to slip on every banana peel within about a ten foot radius of my path! Historically, I do have pretty ridiculous bad luck, but most of the stuff that happens to me is my own fault. I’ll admit it: I’m a klutz in just about every way.

Now I know some of you may not believe me, but here are just a few gems to prove my point. A couple of years ago, we lost my three-year-old’s camera within a couple weeks after he got it for his birthday. We searched the entire house and couldn't find it. Months later, we gave up and replaced the camera with a used one. About six months later, I found the camera. In my closet. Where I had put it after taking it away for misbehavior. Throughout that entire time, the memory never surfaced until my hand touched the camera. I still have bad mommy guilt for that one. That’s right. If you misbehave in my house, you lose your favorite toy for at least EIGHT MONTHS!

Unfortunately, my tendency to be both a mental and physical klutz didn’t start with adulthood.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to march to the tune everyone else is following, and never seemed to succeed. When I was in college, I played the part of a “lovely” in a community play. My job was just to glide on stage in a pretty gown and announce the different acts with a placard. During one of the performances to a packed house, the spotlight cut off early as I descended the stage steps in the dark theater. It came on again… right as I tripped and fell in a not-so graceful heap. A sweet old man toddered over to help me up. With nothing hurt but my pride, I stood to my feet and curtsied to the audience.

As embarrassing as that was, it didn’t really compare to what happened once when I was in a pageant once. Yes, I competed in scholarship pageants as a way to help earn money for college, and maybe I was searching for a little of whatever pageant girls had that made them appear so perfect. In this particular pageant, I only discovered my faux pas after it was over. I was later told that I would have won the swimsuit competition if the tag of my swimsuit not been sticking out the back of my tankini bottoms! So yes, apparently I sashayed around the stage in front of an audience with my swimsuit tag flapping in the breeze! Worse, I was also told that the scores of the pageant had been so close, that I would have won the entire competition had my swimsuit not been flying its white flag of surrender!

And the list goes on. Yes, I am a screw-up. I’ll spare you more examples; just be assured that I have a lovely little replay of classic Amanda moments that conveniently replays through my mind at the most special times!

Looking on the bright side, the redeeming virtue of being me is that I am not boring. I laugh and I cry a lot, but life is interesting. I always wonder what other people are really like under the Facebook persona they present to the world. Are they really these amazing, accomplished super-people that have it all together? I don’t know for sure, but I suspect that, underneath it all, most of you are screw-ups just like me!

In my case, I have managed to use my faults and experiences to create realistic characters in my books, or at least, characters that have faults like me. The character of Hannah in the “Yesterday” series has a lot of my insecurities and quirks that mirror my own maybe a little too closely. The entire idea for book “The Random Acts of Cupid” was based on one of my own screw-ups in high school. Every book I've written has some element of my own reality to it.

While my female heroines are smart and strong, they tend to be klutzy and have life happen to them. They aren't perfect. They have confidence issues, they fall on their face, they get angry, they make the wrong decisions, and yes, they slip on banana peels. Sometimes their experiences are worth a laugh, sometimes a cry, but they are always interesting.

So maybe I wouldn't want to be perfect, even if I could be. I’ll take every screw-up I have and, by God’s grace, allow Him to turn them into something good. After all, God would have never needed to come save the perfect. Maybe it is through our mistakes and imperfections that His beauty and glory can truly shine.

I’ll just tally this latest screw-up with all the others. Maybe they’ll make a reappearance in a “booke” 
sometime, or maybe they’ll just serve as a reminder that everyone is flawed. Besides, who would even want to read about perfect characters? How boring!  After all, now that I think about it, bookes ARE much better than books, wouldn't you agree?

Monday, October 6, 2014

Now Available!!!

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10 Books for 99 cents!!!

Ten best-selling Inspirational romance authors come together to bring you the Red Hot Squeaky Clean Romance collection! If you're anything like us, you enjoy reading various genres -- a cozy mystery, a thrilling suspense, an adventurous historical, a catchy contemporary -- we love them all as long as the romance is piping hot and the story is comfortably clean. For the first time ever, as you turn the pages of these complete stories, you will meet ten of the most recognized names in inspirational romance today and read their award winning, critically acclaimed stories all in the same collection. You're in for such a treat!

Home Before Dark by Christy Barritt
Daleigh McDermott finds a journal penned by her late father which sparks a dangerous investigation into his death with the assistance of Ryan Shields, the only man who believes her.

Beyond the Waves; Pacific Shores Series, Book 1, by Lynnette Bonner
Officer Kylen Sumner and Taysia Green have a history. He's broken her heart more than once. So when he returns home claiming he just might be in love with her, she wants nothing to do with him. If only her heart would get the message!

Sapphire Ice; Jewel Series, Book 1, by Hallee Bridgeman
The men in unbeliever Robin Bartlett's life have only ever been users. Believer Tony Viscolli's arrival and relentless interest in Robin both infuriates and intrigues her.

A Love for Delicious; Woman of Courage series, Book 1, by Cynthia Hickey
Widowed newlywed Delicious (Delly) finds herself stuck with 5 stepchildren all under age 13 on the opposite side of the country from Oregon and their uncle. She hits the trail, promising to do anything to gain the children their birthright and protect it from those out to take it. Can she guard her heart against the handsome trail guide, Zeke Williams?

Waiting for Rachel; Those Karlsson Boys, Book 1, by Kimberly Rae Jordan
Rachel Perkins is a loner who feels certain she's not the right woman for Damian Karlsson. Damien feels otherwise and is willing to do what it takes to change her mind and her heart.

The Unveiling; Age of Faith series, Book 1, by Tamara Leigh
Disguised as a squire, Lady Annyn Bretanne sets off on a quest to avenge her brother's murder by Baron Wulfrith. When her disguise is unveiled, they each face tests of faith and resolve.

Saving Grace; Madison Falls, Book 1, by Lesley Ann McDaniel
Grace is an opera singer forced by a stalker to go into hiding in a small town. There, in that most unexpected of places, Grace finds elusive love and claims her faith.

Yesterday by Amanda Tru
Hannah has the ability to time travel but there are consequences. After saving a family injured in a car accident, Hannah wakes the next morning to find her yesterday was five years ago!

The Redemption; Legacy of the King's Pirates, Book 1, by MaryLu Tyndall
Lady Charlisse Bristol sets off on a voyage in search of the father she never knew, only to find herself shipwrecked on a desert island. Near starvation, she is rescued -- by a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick.

Falling in Love; Seasons of the Heart novella series, Book 1, by Susette Williams
Summary: Katie Morgan thinks she's doing her boss, Wade McAlester, a favor by setting him up on blind dates. After Katie plays matchmaker and sets Wade up with all kinds of zany ladies, Katie starts to realize that Wade might be suited for her.

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