THE NEXT TARGET

The Next Target by Nikki Arana goes on sale June 1. This is one of the most interesting, educational, and exciting books I have ever read. It kept me on pins and needles, especially at the end. It had a great ending.

If you feel you know nothing about Muslims and want to know more, read this book! It gives you the basics of militant cells right here in the US. It opened my eyes to how easy it is for these to grow. I was so ignorant about this topic until I read this book. Now, I am learning more about Muslims because they are in my neighborhood.

I was impressed by Nikki's writing style, and her knowledge about Muslims. It opened my eyes about Muslim women and how they are treated by Muslim men. I'm proud we are not treated that way. Here's a picture of the book and Amazon's blurb. I hope you will buy it and enjoy it.

It only took one bullet. Austia's friend and student fell dead. And with a glimpse of a newspaper headline, the young and recently widowed Austia knows more about what happened than the police. From that fatal night, Austia’s secret outreach to the U.S. Muslim community—in the guise of English language classes—becomes a target. Local Muslim extremists set their sights on ending her ministry and even her life. And the women she ministers to will be next.

A thick web of deceit closes in around Austia, and her circle of friends becomes smaller by the day, even as she finally opens herself to the idea of falling in love again. But who can she trust? Facing a spiritual battle that proves more treacherous than it at first seemed, Austia’s convictions are tested to their limits and her heart becomes primed for breaking. She must ask herself: how much she will risk to stay true to her herself, her faith, and to the lives of the women she serves?

A RANGER'S TRAIL

This is the fourth book in the six book series. All of the books have been good. It had to be hard to find three writers that wrote similar to do these books. Their agent did a great job selecting these three women. Here's what Amazon says and the book cover. I thought Buck never would kiss Leta. It is good.

This is the fourth book in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas historyspanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read on its own.

In 1875 Buck Morgan rode into Mason County with the Texas Rangers to quell the violence stirred up by the actions a vigilantly mob. The Hoo Doo (or bad luck) War erupted as suspected cattle rustlers were murdered by an angry mob.  Former ranger, Scott Cooley, gathers a gang to seek vengeance for the murders.

Suspected of cattle rustling, Leta Derrick's husband was murdered by the mob a year earlier. Now she is siding with the rogue ranger, Scott Cooley and refuses to help Buck Morgan stem the tide of violence.

Will their actions fuel the fire of vengeance? Or will Buck and Leta strike an accord that leads to more than just peace? 

A BUSY WEEK

This is proving to be a busy week. It started with a doctor's appointment early Monday morning, and it hasn't slowed down yet. I did get good news from the doctor. He does not think he will have to make an incision in the scar that has been opened four times already. I did ask for a zipper. He thinks he can do a laproscopic incision. ( I can't find out how to spell that, so bear with me.) That way he can put a large piece of mesh in my abdominal cavity and it should take care of the hernias. We had a long talk about that.

Yesterday we went to buy drapes for my living room. We've had vertical blinds in the living room since we bought the house. I don't like them. They don't give a lot of light, and the gas heat makes them grimy. It's hard to open them wide enough to clean the windows. When the drapes come, I can open the windows and let the light stream in, plus clean the windows better.

Today I got my hair cut. Short and sassy. I have a lot of curl in my hair. Thanks to a very high fever and being unconscious for over a week. Strong antibiotics helped also. My hair fell out, but came back curly. I had been wearing it long, and it looked horrible. I looked like a witch. I stood as much as I could. Today it is gone. The curls are back, and I love it. Just finger comb an go. So easy!

Something else I had to do today was defend the Bible to a Muslim. Go to forchristiangirls.org and see how I defended the Bible. This gentleman tried to show how the Quran was right about the diety of Christ. That He was not the Son of God, and only a fleshly mortal. It's very sad that Muslims believe this book. It is so different to what the Bible teaches. We need to become more aware of it.

Church tonight will just about round out my day. Sorry this is so late. I hope to have an interview with Liz Curtis Higgs on next week. I've gotten behind on it also.   

HOOK YOUR BOOK

That's the name of my presentation tomorrow. The author that comes to mind with the best hooks is Mary Connealy. In Out of Control, Chapter 2, the first paragraph reads, "Rafe spurred his horse to a ground-eating gallop and enjoyed her arms around him way more than was wise."

Chapter 1 hooked me, but chapter 2 hooked me more. What kind of a guy was he that was really enjoying having a woman's arms around him? In fact, he was enjoying it too much. I wanted to read more about this guy. Was he an idiot or something? After reading the book, I found out he was, but not the worse idiot. He comes out in the third book.

At the end of each book, there is a hook for the next book. This is a true series and not a stand alone. This is the way to tie the books together. After reading the second book, I pre-ordered the third. I had to have it. The hook was too good. To me, that's good writing.

The hook in the first chapter of this book is "Last time. This is it. Never again." I wanted to know what it was he was thinking about. It intrigued me so I read on. That was a good hook. It got my attention. What was this thing that was the last time for him and he would never do it again?

Narrative or dialogue? Most go with narrative, but be careful that you don't go to telling instead of showing. It's easy to do that. Just keep in the character's POV. It doesn't have to be long. It can be a few sentences, or one sentence.

I'm back to finishing my presentation. Tomorrow is my big day. I pray I know enough of what I'm talking about.

WHAT DAY IS IT?

That's one question I ask all the time now that I'm retired. Yesterday I called my nephew in Scotland, and I asked him what he was doing. He said he was getting ready for his class tomorrow night. Then I realized it was Tuesday. It's amazing how we lose time when we don't work at a job. I usually count my days by going to church, but since I haven't been able to go regularly, that's been more difficult.

For years, I lived with a date book, appointment calender, or whatever you call it. It sits on my desk, but sometimes I still get mixed up. Today I had a notation to reprint an article by Liz Curtis Higgs on forchristiangirls.org. Did that! I hope you have read some of her books. This is a devotional book called Rise and Shine. It's not the newest of her books, but it is good to read a few moments in the mornings. I have enjoyed it so much to help get my day started. Drop by and read what she says about Good Groom-ing.

Back to work on Hook My Book. I'll still take any ideas anyone else has. If you want a copy when I finish, let me know. My email is kattanderson4@gmail.com,. Have a wonderful day.

BELATED HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Here's hoping everyone had a Happy Mother's Day. I did with flowers and lunch out. Then I slept the rest of the afternoon. How relaxing!

Saturday I'm giving a presentation on Hooks. Not fish hooks, I'd have to have my husband do that. After all, he's had one embedded in his arm. No, hooks in a story. I do know how important they are and how easy we forget them. I'd like to ask a few questions and hope you will respond, even if you are not a writer.

How do you feel about hooks?

Where do you put hooks? Beginning of scene, chapter, end of scene or chapter.

Do you have a special way of writing hooks?

Can you have too many hooks?

I feel a book can be boring without hooks. In The Guardian Duke, I felt it was full of hooks, and I didn't want to put it down. It was not a boring book, but very exciting. Not all books can be that way. I want my book, and anything I read, to keep me interested. That's what I feel hooks are for.

Even a fairy tale kept you hooked because you wanted to find out what would happen to the princess and the witch. Would her prince find her in time before the witch did something bad to her? We, as children, were hooked from the beginning of the book.

I'd like to hear what you think about hooks. I give my presentation Saturday and I'd like some fresh ideas.

THE GUARDIAN DUKE

I have had trouble getting to publish on this blog. Looks like it's fixed now. A little complaining goes a long way.

I finished The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie this week. It is high packed with adventure and fast moving acenes. I loved it. She is a very good writer. This book is no exception. The book came out in February and she has another one, The Forgiving Duke, coming out July 1. I'm almost through with it, and it is just as good. I'll give you the book cover and the back cover blurb.

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.


This was a most enjoyable book. Very exciting. Bless Alexandria's heart, she had been by herself too long to know all the dangers she was bringing upon herself. She went from one problem to the next trying to find her parents. I loved this book and I'm loving The Forgiven Duke.

END OF THE TRAIL

The last book in The Texas Trail Series will be out June 1. Vickie McDonough did a wonderful writing of this book. It's full of action, comedy, and romance. In fact there are two romances.

End of the Trail is part of a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. 

Brooks Morgan left home 11 years earlier and is just too stubborn to return home.  In 1896 he pulls into the town of Shoofly to take refuge from a storm and befriends John Langston in the local cafe. A high stakes poker game ends with Brooks holding the deed to John's ranch with one condition - Brooks must promise to take care of Keri. Brooks agrees, assuming that Keri is a horse.

Overcome by guilt, Brooks return to the cafe to give back the deed but finds John on the floor dead. Brooks heads off to take care of John's ranch and is ambushed. With a noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back he offers a prayer up to God.  A stunning shot is delivered from the rifle of a lady on horseback that breaks the noose and frees Brooks. But could this lady - Keri - be an enemy, too?

I loved this book. In fact all that I have read in this series have been good. I do lack two reading the whole series, but I will read them. One thing I like about this series is the Morgan horses. I don't know if it is true or not, but I did know about Morgan horses before I read the books. They are beautiful horses. 

Darlene Franklin, Vickie McDonough, and Susan Page Davis did an amazing work on these books, blending them together. Their agent did an awesome selection putting them together to work on this project. These have been a most enjoyable read for me and for others. Thanks ladies. and one gentleman agent.

VERY EXCITING NEWS

Yes, I have very exciting news! I have good and bad, but we'll do the good first. I don't have a date, yet, but Liz Curtis Higgs will be my guest the last part of May. Right now she is in Scotland and does not have very good internet connections.

On May 16, I will have one of her devotionals on forchristiangirls.org. It really touched me, and I thought it would do the same for girls. The publishing company gave me permission to publish it and to interview her. Since she is in Scotland, her interview will be later.

Liz is one of the most precious people I know. Being the American Fiction Christian Writer's Kentucky Area Coordinator, I had written her several times. She attended conference last year in St. Louis. Before the first meeting, I spied her alone holding up a pillar. I walked up to her and introduced myself. Arms went out and I received the biggest hug I have ever received outside of family. She is a wonderful lady and I love her dearly.

I began reading her books several years ago. The site of one was on the Island of Arron, off the coast of Scotland. When we went there several years ago, that was my destination, and I loved it. It was so beautiful. We visited Brodick Castle, and a young man played Georgia when I entered the parlor. Beautiful. The castle is my screen saver on my computer.

Liz has graciously agreed to be interviewed when she returns home after the May 21.

Now the bad news. I go to the surgeon tomorrow. I had an appointment scheduled with my general practitioner yesterday and he got the results form the CT scan. He let me read it. I'm a mess in my belly. I have a diverticulitis that is inflamed. I'm on antibiotics for that. It's better this morning. I also have a diviticulosis (not the correct spelling)  that is strangling my colon. Not good. It will be an incision. So glad I'll have another scar to go with the other ten on my stomach. If I miss more times writing than normal, you will know where I'll be.