LiteraryScape

In this episode Jessica and Melissa dicuss Julie Lessman’s novella Grace Like Rain. This story features Blake the rake and concludes the Heart of San Francisco series. We loved seeing Blake find Jesus, love, and grace.

Topics we discuss:

Working with children with special needs.

How our sin hurts the ones we love.

The power of prayer.

God’s grace.

Marlene discusses her experience writing books set in the 1960s and 70s and the challenges she faced in finding a publisher. She shares how she decided to go the indie publishing route and the freedom it has given her to write from her heart. Marlene emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord and following His guidance in the writing process. She also gives a sneak peek into her newly released book, 'All Men Are Liars,' which is part of the Jesus Revolution Romance series.

Takeaways

Writing books set in the 1960s and 70s can be challenging to find a publisher for, as it is often considered a 'no man's land' in the publishing industry.

Indie publishing provides the freedom to write from the heart and express what is truly on the author's mind, even if it doesn't fit into the current market trends.

Trusting in the Lord and following His guidance is crucial in the writing process, especially when facing obstacles and uncertainties.

Marlene's upcoming book, 'All Men Are Liars,' is part of the Jesus Revolution Romance series and explores the conflict between staying true to oneself and finding true love.

Readers can connect with Marlene and stay updated on her book releases through her website, MarleneWilliams.com.

In this episode Jessica and Melissa discuss the third novel in Julie Lessman’s Heart of San Francisco series titled Surprised by Love. This love story features Bram and Megan. Their love moves from friendship to lovers and the change is scary and challenging for both of them.

Plus, we finally get to see how things end with Cait and Logan. It is a wild ride with many unexpected twists!

Oh, and Bram and Megan face death while on the sea!

Topics We Discuss:

Waiting and being particular about who you kiss.

How destructive hate is.

Acceptance versus resignation.

Forgiveness.

In this episode Jessica and Melissa discuss the second book in Julie Lessman’s Heart of San Francisco series titled Dare to Love again. This love story is stocked full of twists, humor, inspiration, and romance.

You will love the supporting characters in this novel, especially little Miss La Di Da. She is the cutest little girl who captures everyone’s heart.

Cait and Logan’s relationship progresses before taking an unexpected turn.

If you enjoy the sparks and humor in McClintock then you’ll Dare to Love Again.

In this conversation, Sara R. Turnquist and Melissa discuss various aspects of writing, including researching historical events, handling sensitive topics in Christian fiction, and the importance of bringing hope and light into the world through writing. Sara also shares information about her latest book and her role in the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference.

In this episode Jessica and Melissa discuss Julie Lessman’s book Love at Any Cost. This is the first book in her Heart of San Francisco series.  We dig into Jamie and Cassidy’s relationship from the time he runs her over to when he finally wins her heart.

Of course, there are always supporting characters, and Julie has created a cast of fun loving friends and family you will fall in love with. We enjoyed their banter, games, outings, and family dinners.

And in typical Julie style, she has a secondary love story between Caitlyn and Logan. This couple has a long history and a second chance at love. We enjoyed watching them reunite over the course of this series.

The surprising twists in this novel with keep you turning the page, and the inspiration will leave you filled with peace and hope.

We gave the following ratings to each of the story elements listed below.

(Espresso = an expression, Mocha = Medium amount, Latte = A lot)

Mystery - Espresso

Drama – Mocha/Latte

Suspense - Espresso

Romance – Mocha/Latte

Inspiration - Latte

LiteraryScape’s overall lasso rating of Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman is 3. We are sure you will be hooked and hog-tied with this romance story.

Our rating scale:

1 lasso = a throw and a miss

2 lassos = hooked

3 lassos = hooked and hog-tied

https://www.literaryscape.com/podcast/123

In this conversation, author Sarah Sundin discusses her Sunrise at Normandy series and her approach to writing historical Christian romance. She emphasizes that while she starts with characters and plot, the reader takeaway is what the reader finds in the story, which may be different from what the author intended. Sarah also shares her favorite characters and scenes from the series and the emotional connection she felt while writing them. She discusses her research process and the importance of being focused and avoiding rabbit trails. Sarah concludes by sharing her upcoming book and how readers can connect with her.

In this conversation, Lindsay shares valuable insights on how to pitch novels and ourselves as authors. She emphasizes the importance of selling, not telling, and provides a formula for crafting a compelling pitch. Lindsay also highlights the significance of pitching ourselves before pitching our projects and offers tips on introducing ourselves effectively. She encourages authors to find their people by being specific about the kind of books they write. Lindsay also discusses the spiciness level in books and the importance of being clear about it in pitches and book descriptions.

Takeaways

·      Pitching is about selling, not telling. It's important to tell people just enough to make them interested and want to know more.

·      Before pitching our projects, we should pitch ourselves effectively. Introduce ourselves with confidence, make eye contact, and be specific about the kind of books we write.

·      Finding our people is crucial. Be specific about the genre, tropes, and time period of our books to attract the right audience.

·      Include the spiciness level of our books in pitches and book descriptions to ensure readers know what to expect.

·      Receiving a 'no' is not a failure. It's an opportunity to find the right audience and focus on those who are genuinely interested in our stories.

In this episode Tiffanie, Mom, and Melissa discuss The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin. This is the final book in her Sunrise at Normandy series. In this novel Sarah brings the series to an unforgettable end making it our favorite story in the entire series. I hope you enjoy our discussion!

Topics We Discuss:

·      Letting past dictate your future

·      Praise God in the dark times

·      Love letters

·      The Prodigal Son

·      Thanking God for the trials

In this episode Tiffanie, Mom, and Melissa discuss The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin. This is the second book in her Sunrise at Normandy series. We loved Adler and Violet’s love story and hope you enjoy our discussion and stories!

Topics We Discuss:

·      How God gets our attention.

·      God’s forgiveness.

·      We each have a role in building God’s kingdom.

·      The consequences of sin.

And much more!