Everyone deserves a happy ending. We all have our own tragedies to survive, large and small, so we all need the reminder that hope and love are all around us. I believe this so deeply that I built two entirely separate—and surprisingly successful—writing careers so I could make that happen for all my characters and all my readers. Twelve years ago, in one of the darkest periods of my life, I desperately needed hope. My daughter was born very ill, and in her first few years of life, she faced so many crisis-level medical problems that I held her life in my hands more times than I want to remember. At some point, a nurse handed me a romance novel: KISS AND TELL by Cherry Adair. That novel—with its message of hope fulfilled and of happy endings emerging from the darkness and chaos—saved my life. It, and other romances like it, were my escape, my antidepressant, my hope during hopeless times. So when I started thinking that maybe I could write one of these books that had saved my life, my only goal was to help someone else the same way I’d been helped. If I could do that for…

COTTONMOUTH AND THE RIVER What is the difference between mature fiction and children’s literature? Is it the closet-filled monsters and things that go bump in the night? Could it be the lack of romance and sexual tension? Or is it merely that children take the front stage as the protagonist? Every author would have to agree that in some way, children’s literature deals with the same amount of content mature literature does. Everything from a depressed donkey in the Hundred-acre Wood, to Aslan’s betrayal, we see that certain pieces call children to ponder and reflect upon the same things we adults are called to reflect upon. In fact, it was Dr. Joy of Homerton College who has written numerous pieces on the effects of children’s literature who boldly stated “…these [children’s] books can tell us far more about the adult world than they can about the children’s.” The point being, some of the greatest short stories and printed work are children’s books which don’t hold back any punches. I don’t know about you, but my list of nostalgic books as a child are some of the heaviest in their message and content. And it was there within those pages as…

Fresh Pick for Friday, May 9th, 2014 is OUT OF THE RUINS by Karen Barnett #InspirationalFriday Golden Gate Chronicles Abaddon Books May 2014 On Sale: May 6, 2014 ISBN: 1426780575 EAN: 9781426780578 Trade Size Add to Wish List Inspirational Fiction Historical Buy A Copy Amazon.com BN.com Powell’s Books Indiebound Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn�t expect, however, is for God�s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best. As they work together toward a cure, Abby�s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city? Dynamic story about finding your way back to God. Previous Picks

From “contemporary romance superstar”* Julie James comes an exciting new romance that will have fans exclaiming, “I do!” *Kirkus After a humiliating end to her engagement, investment banker Sidney Sinclair is done with commitment-phobic men. But when her sister winds up engaged after a whirlwind courtship, Sidney is thrown into close contact with exactly the kind of sexy playboy she wants to avoid—the gorgeous best man. She’s stuck with him, for better or worse, until her sister walks down the aisle, but that doesn’t mean she has to give in to his smooth advances, no matter how tempting they are… Special agent Vaughn Roberts always gets his man on the job and his woman in bed. So Sidney’s refusal to fall for his charms only makes him more determined to win over the cool and confident redhead. Only what starts out as a battle of wills ends up as a serious play for her heart. Because the one woman who refuses to be caught may be the only one Vaughn can’t live without… “James is a contemporary romance superstar…Sexy and effervescent.” —Kirkus Reviews “One of contemporary romance’s superstars.” —San Francisco Book Review “Julie James writes books I can’t put down.”…

When I launched my first online auction for diabetes research in 2005, I had no idea I would still be running the fundraiser ten years later. I started it because I wanted to make a difference to my son, who was diagnosed at five years old, and everyone else suffering from this terrible disease (over 350 million people have diabetes worldwide). So far, we’ve raised over $2 million, but I honestly thought we’d have a cure by now. Ever since we first learned that Thad faced this challenge, I’ve been hearing that a cure is right around the corner. And when you slug away at something for a long time, and it doesn’t feel as if you’re making enough of an impact, it can be tempting to give up. In those moments of discouragement, however, something always happens to keep me going. Many times it’s an episode of insulin shock and another jolt of that terrible fear that grips every parent of a child with diabetes. But it can also be something positive, like having my son put his arms around my neck and tell me how much he appreciates what I’m doing. Or another author, friend or supporter emailing…