Month: September 2016

Five Fall Favorites – Day One

Published on by Amanda Tero27 Comments
This week is going to be fabulous fun! 🙂 I am linking up with five other bloggers and we’re all going to spend a week with our favorite books!


But we want you to join in the bookish fun too! Every day there is a giveaway going on one of the blogs.

Oh wait. Did you miss the invitation? Here ya go…



Now that you are invited, come on in to the bench room! Take a seat and enjoy a good book or two (or ten or more!) with me! And, as I’m discussing my favorite books, be thinking about your own favorites! I love to hear about more books, so take these genres and tell me — which are your favorites in these genres?



5 Favorite Mystery Books
I’m going to define “mystery” as a book that has an aspect mystery in it. I used to read a lot of mystery books when I was younger, but I’m not sure that I really have read any books specifically “mystery” in the past few years.
1) Kate’s Innocence by Sarah Holman

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2) Ring of Secrets by Roseanna White

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3) The Daughters of Jim Farrell by Sylvia Bambola

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4) Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin

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5) The Northwood Series and The Freedom Seekers Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson


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5 Favorite Christian Fiction Books
This being my favorite genre, it is downright impossible to narrow it down to five. So I’m just naming five that I liked…

1) Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer

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2) From the Dark to the Dawn by Alicia Willis

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3) A Woman Name Damaris by Janette Oke

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4) A Time of Grace series (The Fragrance of Geraniums, All our Empty Places, A Love to Come Home To) by Alicia Ruggieri

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5) The Old River Road

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5 Other Blogs
Want to read more favorites? Click on the images to hop over to these blogs and see what they have to share (also remember that one of these bloggers is having a giveaway — hint, it’s the book room 😉 Shh! I didn’t say that…).

Be sure to stop by Rebekah’s blog for the big giveaway!! It ends Friday night (note: giveaway includes an “idea jar” as well as paperback copies of the featured books).

The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
20633970This was an amazing read, for me as a Christian author. It refreshed some things I knew and taught me some things I didn’t know. To start off with, Mr. Gerke focused on the spiritual backbone of writing. I found this section very refreshing. Who are you writing for? What is your motive? Who do you hope to reach?

From there, he covered many aspects from the approach to the craft of writing. One point that helped me was: how to think of yourself as a writer (you’re more of a filmmaker than a campfire storyteller). As I was reading the book, I kept thinking of different writer friends (in different points of their writing knowledge) that I know would benefit from the book.


There were, of course, many examples given to portray what Mr. Gerke was teaching. One in particular did not appeal to me (he was explaining how to portray a vile character without using language, and I found the example defiling). Because of this, the conservative teen might want to beware.

Some quotes:
“…Good fiction represents how God works with mankind.”

“Don’t mention something about a character that you don’t come back to later.”

About the Book
Let’s face it: Christian fiction is fun. Even if you’re writing a serious-minded study of man’s inhumanity to man, there is something exhilarating about story; about creating people and worlds and events; about telling a tale that keeps readers enraptured and maybe – just maybe – leaves them fortified in their walk with Jesus.
But for all of the fun, it’s also hard work. There is skill involved in writing excellent Christian fiction. There is craftsmanship to be learned. And there are the long hours pounding away on a manuscript that, by the time you’re done with it, has you convinced it’s the worst piece of garbage ever penned by man.
That’s not even talking about trying to get your book published. It’s a wonder anyone would choose such a way to spend otherwise useful time.
So maybe you put your novel away for awhile. You’ve tried to do more sensible things with your spare moments. You’ve attempted to be engaged with workaday matters, laundry, and bills.
But one day, a new story idea will pop into your head or you won’t be able to stop hearing the voice of a character demanding to be written about. On that day, you’ll be right back where you were, counting the cost of writing Christian fiction — and loving it like nothing else.
Purchase on Amazon

What good books on writing have you read?

Rebekah Morris | Author Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
I’ve “seen” Rebekah around author circles the past year, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that we really began “talking” to each other via email. It has been such a joy to get to know her better!
She recently released a new short story. You may see my review of it here.

About the Story
Newly married, Elizabeth Leffler moves with her husband to his farm in the foothills of the western mountains. Eager to be a part of the town and community, she is disappointed by the cool welcome she receives. In her eagerness to fit in and find a place for herself, Elizabeth does the unthinkable.

Purchase this story on Amazon.

Interview with Rebekah
You have been a busy writer in the past few years! Can you tell us a little bit about how God led you to become a writer and how you’ve become published?
God’s ways sure are not man’s ways. Looking back now, I can see His hand guiding me toward writing even when I hated it! I loved reading and listening to unabridged books, which established a very good foundation for sentence structure, style, plots and so much more. I also loved to pretend. Seriously, my best friends and I were ALWAYS pretending something. It might be taking our “children” to church, or riding our “horses” (that looked an awful lot like bikes), or manning a ship on the sea. Anything and everything was play acting , and I think that really helped me be able to “become” the characters that I write about now.
Once I was ready to write, stories just started coming and I had to write them.
Getting published. When I was ready to publish my first book, I didn’t know of another homeschooled author who had written and published their book. I was on my own. After much looking, I decided to publish with Xulon Press. That was great. Except . . . I had no control over the price, I couldn’t make the book and ebook, I didn’t have money to advertise at all, and it would probably have taken me another couple of years to earn enough money to publish a second book. Enter Homeschool conference. There I met someone who introduced me to CreateSpace. I signed up for his short course, followed the steps, and published my second book. And the rest, is history.
What is your favorite stage of writing?
Oh, I love when a new story starts and I can hardly write fast enough to get my ideas down. But I also love watching the story unfold beneath my fingers as I type. And then ending, seeing the last few pages become a reality . . . But I really think my favorite part is when I get to tell my readers, “Hey, it’s finished!” and watch their excited responses, hear their delighted reviews and know that I’ve given them a good story to enjoy.
What is your least favorite stage of writing?
Probably those times when the story feels stuck. When I want to write and can’t. I think that is worse than editing because I edit as I go so I’m never stuck with an entire book to edit at once.
Do you have any future plans for writing novels?
Yep. Right now I have four novels started. Two are a little over half-way done while the others are patiently, or not, waiting their turn. And there are more stories in my head. I don’t think I’ll run out of stories to write any time soon. 🙂
Do you find much of your real life reflected on the pages of your novels?
Quite often I’ll find my characters going through things that I’ve gone though, thinking the same sort of thing that I’ve thought. And if you really want to know, most of the time, when the characters are talking and they scratch their neck or yawn, or something like that, it’s because I just did it. 🙂
What is the #1 piece of advice you’d give to an aspiring writer?
Learn from other authors, but don’t try to make yourself like them. Get ideas from them about how to write, but don’t decide that that is how you “have” to do it. Everyone is different and works differently. Be okay with being unique.
What are three non-writing things you enjoy doing?
Does reading count as non-writing? Because I LOVE to read!
I love knitting baby hats.
Playing the piano and my violin are near the top of my list.
So is hand quilting. But not piecing the quilt! 🙂
Okay, now for some 1-word answers (if possible ;))
Favorite verse?  Right now it’s Psalm 16:11.
Favorite color? Red (Always have loved red.)
Coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea? Hot chocolate! Hate coffee and don’t like tea.
Winter or summer? Winter hands down!
Can a book be read a dozen times? 😉 Or two dozen times. 😉

About Rebekah


Rebekah A. Morris has lived her entire life (as of now) in Missouri. Being home educated during her school years was great, except for writing. That was the worst subject (along with math) that she had to do. It wasn’t until after she graduated that she discovered the joys and wonder of writing. Now she can’t write enough. After spending six years in research and writing, she completed her first book, “Home Fires of the Great War,” a 500+ page, historical fiction about home life in the United States and Canada during the First World War. Since then, she has been an avid writer and always has more than one story going on at once because only one story at a time got tiring and dull.

Scripture Designs 06

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments

 It’s Monday! Think over the last week. Out of what you read in the Bible, what do you remember? What did you apply? A new week is before us! By God’s help, let us look into His Word to continue in it an be a faithful doer.
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

Elijah was discouraged and 40 days away from his last evident work for God. Yet God took him from “here” to reveal that He was still God, He was in control, He still had a plan. What graciousness of God, to take us from “here” and still work in and around us! But we can’t stay stuck in the “here.” God used this place Elijah was to give him the next steps, and we see Elijah immediately obeying, which brought him out of the place in which he seemed stuck and discouraged.

Calling All Book Lovers!

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
In just a few short days (nine to be exact), I’m going to be having my first “blog party” here! Rebekah from Read Another Page is hosting “Five Fall Favorites,” where we’ll all be sharing our five favorites from several genres! This has been exciting to prepare for and I’m all geared up to go! 🙂 What’s more, we’ll be having some great giveaways — because, after all, part of the fun of books is to be able to share them! 🙂 So come back and join the fun!!

This Last Surrender | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

I read this devotional book in one day, not 31 as intended. I think it would make a very nice daily devotional book, but it was a Sunday afternoon, and I had a few hours in which to read it. 🙂

There were many good reminders and spiritual truths in this book. It covers so much about daily life — plodding, staying faithful, following Christ, being grateful, praying, embracing Christ’s beauty, the list goes on. Some areas were not applicable to me as a single girl, because I obviously don’t have toddlers clinging to me or keeping me up at night, but I know a lot of young mothers who would identify very strongly with Mrs. Neal’s words and the lessons she’s learned.
I’m not very poetic, so sometimes the poetic flow of wording slowed me down. In some cases, different formatting might would have made it a little easier to read. But still, the truths presented resounded with lessons I’ve learned from the Bible and I appreciated this little book.

Some quotes I liked:
“None of these things are ‘wrong’ in and of themselves, but sometimes we can make them into idols when they become a necessity to us –when we don’t think that we can live without them, that we can’t go on living without them.”
“I want my body back… Or my career back… Or my freedom back… Or my time back. But it isn’t mine–Sometimes I forget that.”
“Because when every support is taken away, we either fall utterly, or we fall on Jesus.”
“Beauty is born from the womb of discipline.”

“If we were never overwhelmed, how would we learn to rely upon Him?”

About the Book
Are you weary in spirit – looking for deep rest? 
Are you thirsty in your soul – needing living water? 
Do you long for a word of encouragement, helping you to persevere through the seeming monotony of motherhood, the press of modern culture, and the difficulties of the Christian life? 

Savor This Last Surrender, a 31-day devotional adapted from some of the most beloved posts from Rebekah Neal’s blog “Ready to be Offered.” Here, you’ll discover a respite – not an escape; a time of refreshment rather than of distraction; and an opportunity to surrender daily everything – heart, soul, mind, and body – to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

You’ll find each day’s selection includes nourishing quotes from past Christians who have walked the narrow way before us, as well as a heart-softening, soul-enriching selection from Rebekah. Ranging from, “Why It’s Not About Losing the Last Ten Pounds,” to “Is He Enough?”, Rebekah handles topics close to almost every woman’s heart with unswerving Scriptural faithfulness and love. 

Every daily reading includes questions for prayer, journaling, or small-group discussion.


Waiting for the Flowers

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

It happens almost every time. I write a book, and then wham! The Lord uses the very words *I* wrote to speak to me — at a much-needed time! I find it amusingly awesome. 🙂

For Befriending the Beast, the theme is one of hope, trust, and waiting. As I was editing it, I realized one scene that held a message that I needed.

~*~*~

“Did these roses bloom as soon as you and your mother planted them?” Percy’s voice was next to Belle. Without looking, she knew that he knelt beside her. “Or were you that impatient little girl, dragging her mama here every morn to search for buds?”

The tears finally emerged. Percy had watched her grow up. Of course he remembered those days of impatience.

“Did you stop watering and nurturing the rosebushes just because you didn’t see flowers?”

Belle shook her head and gave up on pretending to weed.

“Nay. Just like it takes time with flowers, it takes time for the Spirit’s work. And you cannot give up ‘watering and nurturing’ because things aren’t happening as quickly as you’d like them to.”

~*~*~*~

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Wherever the Lord has you today, keep trusting in Him, waiting for Him, and following Him!

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9

Waiting for the Flowers

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
It happens almost every time. I write a book, and then wham! The Lord uses the very words *I* wrote to speak to me — at a much-needed time! I find it amusingly awesome. 🙂 

For Befriending the Beast, the theme is one of hope, trust, and waiting. As I was editing it, I realized one scene that held a message that I needed.

~*~*~

“Did these roses bloom as soon as you and your mother planted them?” Percy’s voice was next to Belle. Without looking, she knew that he knelt beside her. “Or were you that impatient little girl, dragging her mama here every morn to search for buds?”

The tears finally emerged. Percy had watched her grow up. Of course he remembered those days of impatience.

“Did you stop watering and nurturing the rosebushes just because you didn’t see flowers?”

Belle shook her head and gave up on pretending to weed.

“Nay. Just like it takes time with flowers, it takes time for the Spirit’s work. And you cannot give up ‘watering and nurturing’ because things aren’t happening as quickly as you’d like them to.”



Wherever the Lord has you today, keep trusting in Him, waiting for Him, and following  Him!
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9

Praying for Authors

Published on by Amanda Tero4 Comments

 When I was younger, I remember looking up to the authors that I knew of. It really didn’t matter what genre they wrote, they were impressive.

Then, I became an author. I began talking with others authors. And I realized just how… well, human… authors are. Take any author, and you’ll find that they live a similar life to you. Very few authors “just sit and write.” They may be wives, mothers, husbands, fathers, brothers, sisters, or single. Most of them have other jobs or ministries, they all have relationship issues (good and bad), daily struggles, heartache, joys, and delights. It’s just that they add to this, by also being an author.
The more I dove into the writing field, the more I realized how much I appreciate people praying for me as an author. Authors have a huge responsibility. When we write, we are shaping others’ ideas — for good or for bad. If we are a Christian author, then we are handling God’s Word — and must portray it in unadulterated truth. And, like I indicated earlier, we have people who look up to us. Complete strangers will contact us, not only to let us know they appreciate our work (or find fault with it — let’s be honest 😉 ), they will write us to ask for advice and prayers.
Do you think authors needs wisdom? You bet!
Considering all of the above, I started a prayer list for authors. Many of these authors, I personally know. Some of them, I don’t know, yet admire. Whether “big or small” (e.g. sellers of 1,000,000 copies or 10), authors need prayers. Temptations are real. Struggles are real. Discouragement is real. And the opportunity to be a strong light for Jesus is real. The best gift you can give to an author is your dedicated prayers.
Here is a sample of my prayer list for authors:
What would you add to that prayer list? How do authors need prayers?