Month: May 2017

Dedication | The Secret Slipper

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
“The Secret Slipper” releases just day after tomorrow!! For some reason, this release seemed longer in coming than other releases…maybe because it has…
Today, I’d like to share my dedication page with you. Have you ever wondered how authors figured out who to dedicate their work to? Well, I don’t have the answer. 😉 But in writing “The Secret Slipper,” I was thinking about one of the main questions I get asked by others: “Does your family support your writing?” Oh my. Yes. They totally support my writing. ALL of my family does–from my parents to siblings to aunts and uncles to grandparents. I feel so very blessed!! As I was pondering that, I started praying about dedicating this book to two very special people in my life:


It was just a week or so after I had decided to dedicate the novella to my grandparents that Grandma was hospitalized. She had gotten up from bed and ended up on the floor. Long story short, she had a bleeding ulcer that eroded into a main artery. By the end of her hospital stay, the doctors had done an embolism and she ended up with a complete transfusion. And she was able to come home. We personally believe that her recovery was nothing short of a miracle. It was very scary to realize Grandma was so near death (my other grandma passed away five years ago). In Grandma’s words, “God pushed me out of bed.” If she hadn’t ended up on the floor and Grandpa found her, she would have bled to death that night.

All of that to say, I realized how very much I took my living grandparents for granted. They’re both in their eighties and are in good health (besides Grandma’s episode, she was in no pain and has had no health issues). And it just cemented the fact that yes, I wanted to dedicate my newest book to them. They always welcome my projects with smiles and encouragement, and doing this is just a small way to say “thank you.”
Do you read book dedications? What was your favorite?
One last reminder–cause I don’t want anyone to miss out on a deal: 

Scripture Graphics #40

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If my heart is FIXED (set up) to sing and give praise, then unplanned events or people’s words should not “ruin my day.” If my heart is set on singing and praising God, then no matter what comes my way, I will be able to rejoice. The question, then, is: is my heart fixed?

This verse is situated in the middle of verses of trouble, enemies, and crying out to God. Never is there an excuse to stop seeking God.

“Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4:5-6
We see this truth throughout Scripture: wisdom and understanding is directly linked to how diligently one keeps God’s Word. It’s not just about knowing God’s Word, but about doing it.


What a beautiful thought: that no matter what happens, God Himself holds our soul in life and keeps us from moving. If that alone doesn’t make us want to praise Him more!!
What verse has been a good reminder for you this week?

First Line Friday 5.19.17

Published on by Amanda Tero30 Comments
Happy Friday again!! Yesterday, I worked on the first stages of moving into a new bedroom. For the first time, I was able to pull out all of the books I’ve acquired the past three years and have them all in one place! Yeah…I counted up to 350 books (oh wait…I did forget about those that I was lending to friends). 
Which are now, mostly, temporarily shelved. My daddy built me a bookcase (these are closet shelves here) and once the glue dries, the books are in their new home! 🙂 
I pulled together the books I’ve not yet read… *insert scared emoji*
Approximately 130 books! :/ I could read solid a month and not catch up! This pile just may take me years. Have you read any of these books?
And then I counted up the most books from one author… Janette Oke wins!
Last but not least, I had a little fun with my current book infatuations: Civil War and medieval. 
Okay, okay, so FIRST LINE FRIDAY! Yeah, took me long enough! ;P I’ll be honest, perusing through all of those books, I didn’t stop long enough to find a first line. So I thought I’d change the rules. *gasp* 😉 Today, you can choose the first line. See any of my books that you’d like to know the first line for? Just comment and I’ll try my hardest to reply this weekend! I have a graduation I’m pianist at so my time isn’t all free. 
And while you’re at it…why not share a first line from your bookshelf?

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Also, be sure to hop along to all of these other blogs and see what First Lines they have to share!
Please note that I may not fully endorse all of the books that these bloggers read or the content in these blogs.
Rachel – Bookworm Mama
Lauraine – Lauraine’s Notes
Andi – Radiant Light
Robin – Robin’s Nest
Kathleen – Kathleen Denly
Trisha – Joy of Reading
Jeanette – CJane Read

Beau Roberts music

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Another week, another up-and-coming arranger. I’ll admit, I may be slightly partial to this one, cause he’s one of my students. 😉 Just don’t hold that against me and enjoy his music anyway. He currently only has three songs on his YouTube channel, but I’m fairly certain that he’ll be adding more in the coming year. He has more than three songs on his website for sale. Here’s one of his quick arrangements:

Scripture Graphics #39

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How often do complaints slip out of our hearts and mouths, without stopping to consider that God hears us…and that ultimately, we are complaining against the One Who allowed our circumstance?

Contrast this though with Psalm 69:30-31:

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”

How can we glorify God in our lives? By praising Him — not just about the good things, but about everything.
“The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.” Deuteronomy 1:30-34
Fear and doubt are synonyms of distrust and unbelief. How much more faithful do we want God to be, so that He can have our full trust? He created all things…yet we struggle to trust in so many small things!

If we struggle giving thanks to God, maybe we just need to be reminded of Who He is and the great power He holds.

What have you learned from God’s Word this week?

Grandpa Hugs | Book Review

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Another children’s book on the radar today! I really think I’m getting addicted to children’s books…
Fuzzy bunnies, howling wolves, nimble monkeys, and other animals sprinkle the pages of this adorable little book, exploring the times that grandpa’s spend with their grandchildren, such as playing games, reading books, telling jokes, and sharing a comfy, cozy chair. The rhymes are fun with a great flow. This isn’t necessarily a Christian book (there is one reference to God), but it is very sweet and traditional. It is just the type of book that I know my daddy would like to read to his future grandchildren.
*I received this book from BookLook Blogger and happily gave my review*

Book Description

Grandmas are for kisses, and grandpas are for great big hugs! Grandpas are fun! They go on adventures, tell silly jokes, say funny things, and love to eat treats. This adorable board book celebrates how wonderful spending time with Grandpa can be!

Little ones and grandpas alike will love Grandpa Hugs, the charming, rhyming storybook about how special a grandpa can be to a child. This companion to the acclaimed Grandma Kisses celebrates grandfathers and all the love and fun they bring to the special grandkids in their lives.

Whether it is a gift from a grandfather to his grandchild, a grandchild to her grandpa, or as a sweet, creative birth announcement for a first-time grandpa, Grandpa Hugs is bound to warm the hearts of everyone who reads it.

Available on Amazon.

First Line Friday 5.12.17

Published on by Amanda Tero13 Comments
Happy Friday! Today’s FLF, I’m featuring the first line from a new favorite: Paige Torn. I absolutely have to get my hands on book two!

First line:
“Living in Texas can be awesome. Or awful.”
Paige Torn by Erynn Mangum
You may see my review here.
And… about the book…
Everyone knows they can count on Paige Alder. But between volunteering at church, putting in overtime at work, and helping her best friend plan an anniversary party, she’s lucky to grab a cheese stick for dinner. Paige can’t even remember the last time she had a few minutes to relax or dig into God’s Word. Then she meets laid-back Tyler, an attractive, Jesus-loving guy. Will he be able to help Paige get her priorities on track?
Your turn! Share a first line!!
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Also, be sure to hop along to all of these other blogs and see what First Lines they have to share!
Please note that I may not fully endorse all of the books that these bloggers read or the content in these blogs.
Rachel – Bookworm Mama
Lauraine – Lauraine’s Notes
Andi – Radiant Light
Robin – Robin’s Nest
Kathleen – Kathleen Denly
Trisha – Joy of Reading
Jeanette – CJane Read

Abigail Johnson music

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It’s Wednesday. The day I usually have a new WAJN video to share. If you’ve been keeping tabs, however, it’s been a few weeks since that has happened, and I offer my sincerest apologies. I will spill that I’m working on another big music project that has taken my time away from weekly WAJN songs. Lord willing I’ll be able to share more information in the summer.
This week, instead of my own song, I’d like to share about a fellow-arranger, Abigail Johnson. She has several songs up on her YouTube channel that you can find. She also sells her arrangements on Sheet Music Plus. Here is one of my favorites of hers:

The Secret Slipper – last day to sign up!

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
Today is the last day to sign up for The Secret Slipper blog tour! (Also read: last day to get an eBook of “Slipper” for free 😉 ) Slipper will be on tour May 25-June 4 and I’d really like to have just four more bloggers! If you’ve already signed up, please pass the word along to a fellow blogger and reader. SIGN UP HERE!!!

Now, for you…

or for me (?)…what are some questions you have about “The Secret Slipper?” It can be anything from process to characters to writing struggles to timeline…a question for me or the story. I’m thinking about working on something new for this release. 😉