My New Blog--Chicks in Lit.

I would love some visitors over at a new blog that I'm contributing to.  Chicks In Lit. is a brand new place where writers can "shamelessly" promote and network. 
Today, I thought I'd share some of my newly acquired knowledge about the history of writing.  I base all my learning form "The Story of Writing" by Andrew Robinson (a fun textbook that is recommended for the Montessori curriculum, I use it for my home school.)
 

Honor

It is my honor to feature today a great book. Honor by Jaimey Grant. 

Lady Verena Westbridge would rather die than marry. When her father accepts the depraved Percival Winters on her behalf, flight seems her only option and entering into menial service the perfect hiding place. Resigning herself to serving her own kind for the rest of her life, she naively believes she is safe.


Lord Connor Northwicke arrives at a house party and rescues a young housemaid from the unwelcome advances of a brute. Feeling the need to be near her, he offers her friendship. But her disguise is undone and he must save her from her own father by doing the very thing she fears most. He must marry her.

But as Verena's past emerges in bits and pieces, fear threatens to overcome love. Verena must fight for her marriage...and her sanity.

While Jaimey writes what I consider to be "clean" romances, she also infuses her stories with what she calls an "edge".   This is usually in the form of a social or personal tragedy that though existed back in the Regency years of England, it was considered taboo and unspeakable.  You'll love how the characters deal with these issues in a time period appropriate manner.

Honor is the third book I've read from her, and I have to say, the stories are all fabulous and different.  The characters intermingle in each book, so once you read one of Jaimey's novels, you'll be eager to read the next and the next and the next! 

If you are a fan of Victoria Holt, you'll be a fan of Jaimey Grant.

100th Follower Winner

Congratulations to Jill Hathaway, for being the random winner from my pool of followers! Your copy of Veiled is on it's way!

Agatha Escaped!

Oh dear! I have no idea how she did it,

but one of my main characters has escaped

and has been spotted at

Elizabeth Muller's Blog!

Hurry over, Elizabeth might be in trouble.

I'll be over at Joyce Di Pastena's,

JDP News Blog today!
Please come by and say hi!

Also, help me get 100

followers

for a chance to win

a signed copy of

VEILED

SheKows Magazine Reviewed Veiled

SheKnows Magazine Book Review--VEILED

"I have always existed, not just me but all of us, the un-embodied spirits who wait to live." Dive into Veiled and you are suddenly thrust into an amazing world of life before life that you never knew existed. This thrilling supernatural fantasy novel by S.B. Niccum breathes life into a mythical realm which asks powerful questions about the nature of mankind and existence.

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A unique twist on a popular theme, Veiled transports readers into an extraordinary world where spirits exist before life on Earth. But it is not what you might expect. The unborn spirits struggle with their pre-existence in the same way we mortals do. They laugh, they cry, they get depressed, they fall in love, they have arguments, they get in trouble and they even become involved in a war that endangers the future of their new planet.

Tess is an unborn spirit chosen by the Eternals for an important mission. During her training, she grows close to the kind and quirky members of her clan and falls in love with one special soul named Alex. But when she is tested by dark spirits, her own fears and insecurities rise to the surface and it is unclear whether she will be able to live up to her responsibilities and rise to the challenges set before her.

Amid the beautiful other-worldly landscapes of Veiled, the book addresses profound spiritual questions such as: Where did we come from? Do other worlds exist? Are our spirits eternal? And is death just another form of life? But it never comes close to being didactic or forcing the reader to swallow unsavory spiritual ideas. If anything, it opens up a world of fantasy that gives readers the opportunity to think about provocative questions and come to their own conclusions.

Step into the ethereal world of S. B. Niccum's Veiled and join Tess in her journey through pre-mortal existence. What will happen when she crosses the Veil into the next world? Will she remember the work she needs to do? Will she be reunited with her love? Will she remember who she really is?

I am so honored for this review!!!

Thank you SheKnows!

Romance Author, fitness instructor and Super Zumba teacher Michele Ashman Bell.

“It’s amazing the power we have inside of us if we don’t let our fears stand in our way!” Michele Bell

S.B. – Michele, tell us a little bit about yourself, your career and your family.

M.B. - I grew up in St. George, Utah. When I was a kid it was this small, dusty, tumbleweed sort of town, and now it’s amazing and beautiful (and crowded) and I’m so proud to be from there. I went to college at Dixie State College and Southern Utah University, then served an LDS mission to Frankfurt, Germany but ended my mission in San Jose, California. I married my college sweetheart (we served missions at the same time) and now live in the Salt Lake City area. We have 4 children, an amazing daughter-in-law and 2 adorable granddaughters. I’m a fitness instructor and thought when I turned 50 I would retire but I discovered Zumba and now I teach anywhere between 8 – 14 Zumba classes a week. My other hobby is collecting Steinbach nutcrackers and Doris Day movies.

S.B.- Okay, so I had to look up Zumba, because I actually have never heard of it! After watching this video, I want to do it!
(This is not Michele's class)




S.B. -So Michele, do you believe that we all have an intended purpose, destiny or mission to fulfill in life?

M.B. -I believe that we have all been given gifts and talents and will be held accountable for how we use them to bless the lives of others. I’m also positive that there are things in this life that we were meant to do and we need to live our lives so that we will receive guidance and direction to accomplish those things. I feel like if I put my family and faith first, and always fulfill my obligations there, everything else will work out the way it’s supposed to. I don’t really know if being an author was my “mission” but I always felt compelled to pursue it, even though it took me ten years of rejections before it happened. I get so much joy and fulfillment from being an author; I can’t imagine not having it in my life. When I receive a letter or email from someone who tells me my books have touched their life in some way I am reminded at how blessed I am to be a writer. How would my life be different? Well . . . I’d have a heck of a lot more time on my hands.

S.B.Tell us about your work, what have you done? What are you working on right now?

M.B. I have been so blessed in my writing career. Even though I’m categorized as a Romance Author, my books usually have a bigger issue driving the plot. I feel like Women’s Fiction is a better description of what I write. I love to write stories about women in difficult situations who fight their way through all the obstacles and emerge stronger. Having said that I am actually jumping genres and am working on a horror story and also a science fiction story. I’m excited and nervous.

S.B. How do you balance your home and family life and your work?

M.B. This is probably the biggest challenge I have in life. I always try and put my home and family first, but it gets tough with deadlines or when I am passionate about a project I am working on. I find though, that my days flow better and life goes more smoothly when I keep my priorities straight. I am a planner and a scheduler and first thing every morning I plan my day and then get to work.

S.B. What is your advice to people who feel their lives are lacking purpose? How does the quote “Steadiness and toil will serve you better than brilliance” helped you?

M.B. If I’ve taught my children one thing, it is that quote. Each of my children has excelled in different areas (basketball, dance, pageants, etc…) and I have told them over and over that success comes from hard work and persistence, not talent. I have seen so many wonderfully talented people not learn the strong work ethic that comes from having to acquire a specific talent or skill. Having a desire and a passion for something is a starting point, hard work and persistence can turn it into an accomplishment (i.e., talent or skill). I wouldn’t be published today if it depended on my talent, that’s for sure. Also, teaching Zumba did not come naturally. I have no dance skill or training, especially in Latin dance, but I wanted to learn so badly that I worked my tail end off to learn it. It’s amazing the power we have inside of us if we don’t let our fears stand in our way! If someone is trying to find purpose in their life I would suggest several things:

1) Get outside of yourself and volunteer somewhere. Put your efforts in helping others and YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF!

2) Focus on developing a talent or skill. The joy that comes from accomplishing something difficult will give you great fulfillment as well as great self-worth!
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! I feel passionate about this topic and I’m certain that we all have a special purpose to fulfill in this life, thanks for sharing yours.

S.B. Thanks Michele, that is very good advice. I agree with you whole-heatedly in that service and growing our talents are one of the most important factors in happiness. I admire you very much and I did want to mention that Michele's latest book "The Perfect Fit" is available to purchase. I just finished it myself, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was one of the best contemporary romantic stories I have read in a while!

Thanks Michele for stopping by!

Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview! I feel passionate about this topic and I’m certain that we all have a special purpose to fulfill in this life, thanks for sharing yours.