Critique Partners

By Kelly Bridgewater

How do you find critique partners? If you are like me, then you have joined a number of the ACFW’s critique groups, hoping for someone who would help bring life to the story you have poured your heart into.

But what does a critique partner do for you? I have a suggestion of three things, so this shouldn’t be that long of a post to read. (Yeah, I know.)

       1.)    Know the Genre

What good would it do to have someone who focuses on historical western romances when you want to write contemporary thrillers? Try to find someone who enjoys reading the same genre. That way the partner will know the plot points and what is missing from your story.

2.)    Willing to be Honest

I know this sounds funny. But I HATE when I was in graduate school and my one of my writing class had underclassmen in it. No offense to them, but I was farther along in my writing skills, and I hated getting critiques back from them that said, “Great. I would change nothing. You’re a great writer.” I wanted to slam the piece on the table. That offered no help. I know I’m not that good, or I wouldn’t be trying to learn all I could to improve my writing.

If your critique partner isn’t willing to show you your weaknesses, then what are they trying to do? I can give you plenty of people who will pat your shoulder and praise your work. Ask your mother or father. I’m sure they will say that you are the best writer around.

I want to improve my craft, so I want someone to say, “Kelly, your setting doesn’t come alive to me. Here is a book that will help. Look at Susan May Warren’s writing. She is good at anchoring the reader to the setting.” (I am studying her books for that right now!) Who doesn’t need to hear the truth some time?

     3.)   Prayer

On Seekerville in the middle of May, one of the writers asked if writers had people in their court praying for them. Made me think. I ask my writer friends to look at my work, but I never think to have them pray for me when I’m in the pit of despair and doubt God’s chosen work for me. Even if I sent off a tiny email, mentioning the prayer. You don’t have to go into specifics. Just say you need prayer.

This is something I need to work on!

What are other suggestions do you have for what a critique partner should do for you?

A Respectable Actress by Dorothy Love

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

When India Hartley is accused of murder, she must uncover the deceptions of others to save herself.

India Hartley, a famous and beautiful actress, is now alone after her father’s death and embarks upon a tour of theaters across the South. Her first stop is Savannah’s Southern Palace. On the eve of the second night’s performance, something goes horribly wrong. Her co-star, Arthur Sterling, is shot dead on stage in front of a packed house, and India is arrested and accused of the crime.

A benefactor hires Philip Sinclair, the best—and handsomest—lawyer in Savannah to defend India. A widower, Philip is struggling to reinvent his worn-out plantation on St. Simons Island. He needs to increase his income from his law practice in order to restore Indigo Point, and hardly anything will bring him more new clients than successfully defending a famous actress on a murder charge.

From Amazon

Because India can’t go anywhere in town without being mobbed, Philip persuades the judge handling her case to let him take her to Indigo Point until her trial date. India is charmed by the beauty of the Georgia lowcountry and is increasingly drawn to Philip. But a locked room that appears to be a shrine to Philip’s dead wife and the unsolved disappearance of a former slave girl raise troubling questions. Piecing together clues in an abandoned boat and a burned-out chapel, India discovers a trail of dark secrets that lead back to Philip, secrets that ultimately may hold the key to her freedom. If only he will believe her.

My Thoughts:

I have never read anything by Dorothy Love. The covers really did not appeal to me, nor did the synopsis from the back cover. A historical story set during the Victorian Era reminds me of the most famous Victorian writer: Arthur Conan Doyle.

Love does a great job with her top notch writing. I really felt the setting came to life with Love’s attention to detail. The historical detail gripped my attention, and it carried back to my love of the Victorian era, which is popular in Sherlock Holmes’ world. The individual character’s dialogue matched the characters and their social status. The intermingling of the prose versus the amount of dialogue were even matched and allowed me to immerse myself completely.

While the writing captured my attention, the suspense part had me frustrated. As an avid reader of a number of suspense books, I felt that the suspense was low key and could use more attention to what makes a suspense aspect of the book. I don’t mean to be mean, but a suspense started the book, then India is whisked away to an island with her attorney, and they spend time falling in love with each other while India is shunned by a number of servants who work on the island. The case is solved, and India is kidnapped back to the island with a death threat over her head. The threatee approaches and is arrested within minutes. Kind of weird for me.

The romance was also way too fast for my taste too. I really had a hard time believing that India and her powerful attorney, Philip Sinclair would fall in love and be happy by the end of the book. The tension moves too fast, not that I didn’t follow the storyline because I did, but the tension really did not glue the plot together.

Overall, Dorothy Love’s A Respectable Actress had great writing but lacked the suspense and romance that I am used to in a novel. While I could see the action occurring in my head and enjoyed the story, I really wished the story had more meat to the conflict.

I received a complimentary copy of A Respectable Actress from Thomas Nelson Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Lisa Harris: Vendetta

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

From Amazon

No one needs to push Nikki Boyd to excel on the Tennessee Missing Person Task Force. The case of her own missing sister, still unsolved after ten years, is the driving force in her work. When a Polaroid photo of a missing girl shows up at a crime scene, Nikki quickly recognizes similarities to the past. The closer she gets to the abductor, the more she feels that this case is getting personal, and that she is not the hunter at all--but actually the one being hunted.

My Thoughts:

I have read Hidden Agenda by Lisa Harris, and it was an okay mystery. There were some elements that needed fixed in the overall plot. Feel free to browse my previous review on Hidden Agenda. The synopsis for Vendetta appeared to be better, and I was hoping that Harris’ game was more up to a mystery lover’s standard. Vendetta was a much better written book than Hidden Agenda for three reasons.

1.)Conflict

The conflict in this story was twofold: internal and external. Harris made me care about Nikki who wanted to seek revenge on the Angel Abductor, who took her sister ten years ago. I could totally understand and empathize with her pain. I really enjoy stories where someone is missing, and my heart races as I flip the pages, wanting to find out what happens to the absent person. The dilemma in this story was not original by any means. It has been done tons of times, so there was nothing really new here. I didn’t figure out the who the abductor was because they pretty much don’t enter the story until the last third of the book, so there were no bread crumbs pointing to him. It did appear kind of odd that this person was the villain. I would have liked to have seen more interaction with him during the beginning of the book to throw me off base.

2.)Characters

Like I already said, I got on board pretty quickly with Nikki and Tyler. Harris made Nikki’s dilemma come to life, which paralleled the dilemma unfolding in Vendetta with the missing teenager, Bridget. I understood the paralyzing fear that gripped Nikki as the killer taunted and tortured her with clues to the current and past case. Nikki was a strong heroine who would not back down from the case. She wanted to prove the bad guy that he had no control over her life. Nikki is the type of character most of us women can relate too. On the other hand, Tyler was a supportive friend who did whatever Nikki asked. Being an ex-army guy, Tyler was trained in all sorts of missions and skills, so he could lend a helping hand as he comforted Nikki. They both had deaths in their past that they both have been blaming themselves for, but with Bridget missing, both of them learn to lean on each other and let go of some of the blame.

3.)Writing

Harris takes a familiar story and lightens with her use of descriptive images. I really felt like I was traveling through the Smoky Mountains. She does a good job at showing me what is happening in the surroundings as much as the tension happening inside and outside Nikki. There is an even amount of prose and dialogue when it is needed. But there is also lots of dialogue during the important moments, which help quicken the pace for the story. I love when a writer does this.

Overall, Vendetta by Lisa Harris is a much better mystery for me. I really enjoyed the characters and the descriptions. I just wish the villain made an appearance sooner.

My Rating:   4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Vendetta 

What Robin Jones Gunn means to Me

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

This is the eighth post from me writing about the authors who have influenced me as a writer. If you missed any previous posts, please return to them and read up on how these certain authors influenced me. There were C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexandre Dumas, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Steven James.

This post, I want to focus on the author who introduced me to the Christian fiction genre. She was the first Christian author to write for the Young Adult readers. Know who I’m talking about. At the 2013 ACFW conference, she was the Keynote speaker, and I had her autograph one of my classic copies of her book.

Have you figured out who I’m talking about yet?

If you guessed Robin Jones Gunn, then you would be right. As a fifteen year old, I was immersed in reading, but I filled my days and evenings with The Baby-sitter Club, Sweet Valley High and University, Nancy Drew,  and other books for young adults. My father had a subscription to the Focus on the Family  magazine. There was an advertisement for the next book in the Christy Miller Series called True Friends, which was the seventh book in the series. My father knew how much I loved to read, but he wanted to introduce me to Christian books, so he purchased the book.

I loved it and wanted the previous six books in the series. The book affected me as a young teenage girl who grew up in the church but had gotten made fun of because of my strong belief in Christ. Joining Christy Miller as she struggles with the issues I faced as a teenager made her realistic for me. Gunn did a good job at allowing me to understand that being a Christian as a teenager is not a bad thing; it is actually a good thing. We have values and guidelines to help us set our lives upon.

It might be funny for the secular community that the public school preaches, but in the end, I’m the one that didn’t have to deal with unplanned pregnancies, STD’s, hang-over, and failing grades.

Me with Robin Jones Gunn at the 2014 ACFW conference

Robin Jones Gunn introduced me to the Christian Fiction genre and helped me stand strong as a Christian in a world where being a Christian was frowned on. Her stories comforted me and allowed me to stand strong as I took a stand on sex before marriage and drugs.

What author helped you to stand stronger in your faith? What book did they right that inspired you to keep your faith?

Dawn Crandall's Paperback Editions + Giveaways

By Kelly Bridgewater

My friend and author, Dawn Crandall's, Everstone Chronicles books that came out last year in e-book are now out in paperback.  She and I are REALLY excited about this because I have personally sent numerous emails to the publishing companies begging for print editons of her well-received books. All three of the books in the series  are receiving 4.5 star reviews out of 5. If you haven't read them but want the print copies, now is your time to get them.

I welcome Dawn as she tells you a little about The Everstone Chronicles in print:

The Hesitant Heiress (Everstone Chronicles #1) Synopsis:

After being unjustly expelled from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Amaryllis Brigham sees her dreams of founding a music academy in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, disappearing before her very eyes. Now, the only way to achieve her goal comes with high stakes for someone set on avoiding men as much as possible: Marry within the year to inherit the immense fortune of her estranged grandmother. Amaryllis reluctantly moves in to her aunt's Boston home and rubs shoulders with fashionable society. Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men--Nathan Everstone, the envy of every eligible female, whose father has haunted her dreams for the decade following her mother's tragic death. However, Nathan turns out to be much more than he seems...and everything she never knew she wanted. But just as everything Amaryllis has recently hoped for comes to fruition, it all falls apart when she finds that the real culprit who has been managing her life isn't who she thought at all.

The Bound Heart (Everstone Chronicles #2) Synopsis:

One accidental kiss from Lawry Hampton. That was all it took to throw Meredyth Summercourt's world upside-down. Determined to marry the ever-elusive Vance Everstone, she simply doesn't have the time or the desire to fall for her best friend. But with Vance out of the country, and with Lawry at her side nearly every day, teaching her what the world is like through the eyes of a little orphan girl named Wynn--Meredyth can't deny that what's holding her to Vance is nothing more than a desire to redeem herself from her past. Will she marry Vance once he returns from Europe? Or will she be strong enough to break free from the tangled web she's convinced she deserves, and accept that God's plan for her life includes redemption...and, quite possibly, Lawry Hampton?

The Captive Imposter (Everstone Chronicles #3) Synopsis:

For her own protection following the murder of her brother Will, hotel heiress Estella Everstone assumes the alias of Elle Stoneburner and takes a job as companion to an elderly widow. Never did she imagine that her position would lead her back to her beloved Everston, a picturesque resort property tucked away in the rugged mountains of Maine. Living below her station in a guise of anonymity has its struggles, but her spirits are buoyed by a newfound friendship with the hotel manager, Dexter Blakeley. And his distaste for the spoiled socialites who frequent his hotel causes her to take a close look at her own priorities and past lifestyle. When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer of employment she can't refuse. As the two interact and open up to each other, Estella feels a growing attraction to Dexter; and increasing discomfort over concealing her identity. Yet, in spite of the false pretense she's putting forth, she's never felt freer to be herself than in his presence. But will he still love her when he learns the truth about who she is?

The paperback versions of The Everstone Chronicles are out in paperback format from Whitaker House right now! 

From Dawn

Find them here: 
Amazon (amazon.com/author/dawncrandall) 
The Hesitant Heiress (Releases on September 8, 2015)
The Bound Heart (Releases on October 6, 2015)
The Captive Imposter (Releases on November 3, 2015)

If you are still unsure or haven't heard about Dawn Crandall's books (where have you been? jk), here is a link to all the books on Goodreads. Feel free to scan some of the raving reviews about her books.

The Hesitant Heiress
The Bound Heart
The Captive Imposter

Here is the link to MY personal reviews that have been here:
The Hesitant Heiress
The Bound Heart
The Captive Imposter

Would you like to read the first chapter of The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall? Go here and download the first chapter for Free!!!

CONNECT WITH DAWN

Sign up for my quarterly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bilhmv

Facebook: facebook.com/DawnCrandallWritesFirst

Book Review Blog: www.APassionforPages.blogspot.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dawnwritesfirst

Twitter: @dawnwritesfirst / www.twitter.com/dawnwritesfirst

Author Website: www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com

From Dawn

*******Giveaways!!!**************

Please go and sign up! Good Luck!!!

GoodReads Giveaway (5 print copies of TBH)

Rafflecopter Giveaway (5 print copies of TBH)

Win a print copy of @dawnwritesfirst/Dawn Crandall's award winning sophomore novel, The Bound Heart.

***********************************************************************************

Thank you for stopping by and learning about Dawn Crandall's much anticipated paperback editions of her Everstone Chronicles!!

Ace Collins: The Fruitcake Murders

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

From Amazon

As Christmas 1946 draws near, thirty-something marine officer-turned-homicide detective Lane Walker has his hands full. Three men with seemingly no relationship to each other have been murdered, including the powerful District Attorney. The only connection between the crimes? The weapons: twenty-year-old unopened fruitcake tins manufactured by a company that is no longer in business.

While some foods may be to die for, fruitcake isn't one of them! This heaping helping of murder will be no easy task for Walker, and he certainly doesn't need the determined and feisty Betsy Clayton, the political reporter for The Chicago Herald, getting in the way.

My Thoughts:

Personally, I have never read anything from Ace Collins. I have heard of his mystery books, but I have never gotten around to fitting them into my crazy to-be-read pile. After reading The Fruitcake Murders, I am glad that I did finally read something of his. Collins story features everything a great mystery should have. A daring cop. A nosy reporter. A love triangle. And three dead bodies with the ties to the mob.

The mystery centers around a fruitcake tin. No one I know will even eat the stuff, so I thought it was neat for Collins to create a complete mystery that deals with a fruitcake tin. The mystery is a interesting and has many different layers to it. I couldn’t wait to find out who the bad guy was. There were moments of me wanting to read faster so that I could figure out who done it. Just when I think that Tiffany, Lane, or Bret Garner would solve the mystery something awful would happen and change my perspective. Collins does a great job at hiding the identity of the villain until the last moment. I was surprised.

I really empathized with Tiffany, the reporter who wanted nothing more than to be loved and make her name known in the news reporter world. What person now days doesn’t want to succeed at their chosen profession? I completely related with her.  On the other hand, Lane and Bret Garner also wanted to succeed in their missions to help Tiffany solve the two crimes. But along the way, both of them believe they are falling in love with Tiffany. Don’t be threaten by my last sentence, there really isn’t any of the gushy romance stuff that happens in romance books. The story handles the mystery for the most part.  

The plot of the novel takes place in 1946. Christmas 1946 to be more accurate. I felt the biting wind across my cheek as Tiffany ran through the snow to be free of the bad men chasing her. I got nostalgic as I pictured the holiday decorations and lights in the store windows (it is my favorite time of the year). But I had a hard time believing the story took place in 1946. As for the historical accuracy of the time period, I think it should have had a little more attention to detail. This story could have happened in the middle of the fifties during the age of decents where everyone wanted to have the new and latest things. It doesn’t take away from the mystery; I still completely enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary copy of The Fruitcake Murders from Abingdon Press and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

God-given Gifts and Talents

By Kelly Bridgewater

In my Married with Children Sunday School class, we spent the summer going through Stormie O'Martian's book The Power of a Praying Parent. I found some good advice on what to pray for my boys. I have been praying for their future spouses and for them to fall in love with God and keep that childlike faith. But O'Martian gives 29 other tips and areas for lifting your children up in prayer.

Here our a few:
Releasing My Child into God's Hands
Securing Protecting from Harm
Feeling Loved and Accepted
Honoring Parents and Resisting Rebellion
Developing a Hunger for the Things of God

Plus, many more.

The one chapter that really stuck with me was: Identifying God-given Gifts and Talents.

My oldest loves to build things and mathematics. So what could I do, as a parent, to give that love and watch it grow. We have signed him up for Lego club, where there is competitions all over the state. Plus, he does advanced Math over the summer to improve his skills.

My middle child is a loving child who is all boy. He loves to ride his bike and get dirty. He loves to hunt, fish, and listen to loud music.  A perfect clone of my husband. Pray that your child will develop and excel in the gifts and talents God has given him and let him know he has a unique purpose and significance in this world.

My youngest is very competitive. He turns everything into a competition. From chores to eating his dinner first. For Christmas, he received a soccer ball, so we go to the nearby park and run some drills.Our city has a soccer league, but all their games are on Sunday. We won't sacrifice church for a sport. Sorry!

O'Martian says, "When God gives you a glimpse of your child's potential for greatness, love and pray him into being that. The Bible says, 'Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not excel before unknown men" (Proverbs 22:29). Pray that your child will develop and excel in the gifts and talents God has given him and let him know he has a unique purpose and significance in this world.

Each child has special gifts and talents. We need to pray for them to be identified, revealed, developed, nurtured, and used for God's glory" (111).

As a young child, I was always reading books. From the many trips to the library to check out books. From heading to the local bookstore at the mall, I was always surrounded by books. My father and grandfather had a love of the written word and education, so they passed that love onto me.

Writing. I would sit under the tree in our front yard with a notebook and write away the hour, allowing my imagination to roam free. Writing has been a part of my life since I was nine years old. I can't imagine not writing. It is like breathing. Happens all the time.

Your turn: How old were you when you discovered your passion of writing? Looking back as a young child can you trace your love of writing and reading?

O'Martian, Stormie. The Power of a Praying Parent. Eugene: Harvest House, 1995. Print.