with Alice K. Arenz

Welcome to Patterings, Alice! 
Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
It happened when my husband (now ex) said I needed to stop filling all our notebooks with partial manuscripts and finish something, or decide to be serious about writing and learn how to do it properly. That’s when I started getting Writer’s Digest Magazine and compiling info to write and submit.

Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite? Why?
I love all my books – each of them are just a bit different, with the Bouncing Grandma Mystery series, which are cozies (The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, The Case of the Mystified M.D.), TOTALLY different from my serious mystery/romantic suspense that I usually write (Mirrored Image, which releases Oct. 1)

Glory Harper, the “Grandma” in the Bouncing Grandma books, is a total nut, and I can’t help but love her and the other characters. But Cassandra Chase and Detective Jeff McMichaels from Mirrored Image have been living so long in my imagination that they have become a part of me in a way only another writer could understand.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Not wasting time – but that’s my major obstacle whether I’m writing or not. As for overcoming it . . . I guess I’m a work in progress. ;)

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?
Um . . . Lynette Sandler. I wouldn’t say she “interested me most,” but she was certainly intriguing. Lynette dies at the beginning of the book, but without her murder--and the subsequent discoveries made as the book progresses, you’d definitely lose a lot.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? Or what is your strangest habit?
Became a writer. I think that’s pretty quirky.

I have a touch of OCD, so I have a routine I go through every day before I can start writing—checking email, playing a few games of Spider Solitaire while it downloads, and such. I’m trying to break the “need” for this, but without a lot of success so far.

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Um, yep, there are. Sometimes my OCD comes in handy.

What would a perfect day for you look like?
A day I could spend with my family—husband, kids, grandkids—without having to think about going back home and resuming the same old same old.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
Mystery, suspense, thriller, historical, time travel (this fascinates me). But if the book is good, it doesn’t make any difference what genre it is!

Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
Nope. If the words are flowing, I don’t even want to take a break to eat!

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
The necessity of forgiveness crops up a lot in my writing, as does the power of good over evil—though it sometimes seems like evil triumphs for a while, there is always hope and faith. I don’t know that I deliberately put these in my books, but I know they’re in them.

What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?
As I said earlier, I’m a work in progress, so I feel I’m constantly learning. Mostly, though, it’s that I need to listen more to Him and not think I can do “it” on my own. I KNOW this already, but sometimes He has to shake me to get my attention.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Mirrored Image officially releases Oct.1st. It’s a mystery/romantic suspense, with the most awesome cover!

Thanks so much for having me here today! If you’re interested in finding out more about me, go to www.akawriter.com or www.sheafhouse.com. My books can be ordered at any bookstore and online at www.amazon.com, www.christianbook.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and most online book sellers.

You can purchase Mirrored Image from CBD, Barnes and Noble and Amazon:



Alice Arenz is giving away a copy of Mirrored Image. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment by Monday, November 8th and check back on Tuesday, November 9th to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on this post and once on yesterday's spotlight with Alice. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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meet Alice K. Arenz

Alice K. Arenz, author of October 2010 suspense Mirrored Image, has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publication was in the small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included.

In the mid-nineties, her writing earned her a stint with a well-known New York literary agency, and although it failed to produced the hoped for results, her determination to become published eventually led her to Sheaf House.
 
Arenz also writes cozy mysteries under A.K. Arenz. The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, 2008, was a finalist in the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest. The second in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery Series, The Case of the Mystified M.D., 2009, was the February 2010 ACFW Book Club choice, and also won the 2010 ACFW Carol Award for Mystery.

She lives in Missouri with her husband and two Himalayan cats.
You can find Alice online at www.akawriter.com and www.sheafhouse.com

Here is the back cover of Mirrored Image:

Eccentric newspaper columnist Cassandra Chase and by-the-book Detective Jeff McMichaels clash over the murder investigation of Lynette Sandler - a woman who looks eerily like the popular columnist.

The uncanny similarities of the two women's lives and a rash of attacks on Cassie, lead her to the conclusion that she, not Lynette Sandler, was the murderer's original mark.

For McMichaels, the Sandler case becomes more than just a test of his mental acumen. Despite departmental regulations and his own common sense, he finds himself drawn to a woman he was determined to dislike. But can he keep her alive long enough for their relationship to grow?

Here's an excerpt of Mirrored Image:

A dull ache near the center of her back accompanied the gradual return of consciousness. What began as a hot, searing pain was now a nondescript thudding, like an overactive pulse point.

She tried to focus on her surroundings, to move, but her limbs remained frozen to the floor where she had fallen.

A sudden onslaught of memory brought back the shock and horror of the cold steel blade plunging into her flesh. She closed her eyes and fought the vomit rising in her throat. She would not be sick, could not allow such an indignity.

She knew she was dying, could feel her life force drain from her as the blood oozed from the wound in her back. There was no fear of death; it would be a welcome release into the arms of friends waiting on the other side—friends who had not betrayed her.

Betrayal, treachery, and deceit. Ugly words for an even uglier deed that conjured images of the man who accepted thirty pieces of silver to deliver his Lord into the hands of His enemies.

Tears of anger and resentment stung her eyes as rage over the act of disloyalty spurred a primal instinct geared toward survival.

The person who violated her must be punished.

You can purchase Mirrored Image from CBD, Barnes and Noble and Amazon:


Alice Arenz is giving away a copy of Mirrored Image. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment by Monday, November 8th and check back on Tuesday, November 9th to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on this post and once on tomorrow's interview with Alice. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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Esther 5 - The Right Time

Some days are just plain important, and the third day in a fast is one of those days. It's the day that Israel traditionally looked for deliverance (Hosea 6:1-2). Esther had called her people to fast, and it was a drastic fast. But when you're in dire straights, that's what you have to do. On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal robes and went to the king. Not in her neglige. She put on her full queen attire, her power suit. That girl knew how to dress and she dressed for the job she was called to do.

A paramount theme in Esther is what God can do when we resolve to obey and “if I perish I perish.” ~Beth Moore

Esther faced her fear and stepped forward into the the king's court not knowing how he would respond. It took great determination to step into view, but she did it, and when King Xerxes saw her, he saw the queen of Persia. Xerxes extended the golden scepter to her, just as our great and might King does for us. God offers not only extends the scepter of Christ's cross, and God offers us deliverance through that cross. What an image that is to hold on to!

Isn't it interesting that although the king asked Esther what she wished, and gave her almost the equivalent of a blank check, she simply invited him to a private dinner. And Haman, too. Why on earth would Esther invite the man who instigated the massacre of her people? Why didn't she just ask for Haman's head and be done with it?

Remember, the book of Esther paints a picture of God's providence working behind the scenes, even when we can't see Him and think He's nowhere around. The intricacies of God's details are amazing. Haman's presence at that private dinner with the king and queen is one of those intricacies. Esther was ready and in motion, so what held her back when Xerxes asked her a second time? God did. There were still details to work out. Details for Xerxes and Haman.

Esther was seeking deliverance for her people, not personal, or even national revenge. If she were after revenge, she would've asked for Haman's death, but she knew her goal, and revenge wasn't it. Revenge doesn't get you far, but deliverance? Deliverance saves you. If Esther had forced her hand at that first private banquet, the outcome would have been oh-so different because although the timing seemed perfect and the opportunity sure was there, there was something that held Esther back—and she listened to whatever it was. She may have been ready but it was the right time for Xerxes yet. He wasn't ready to hear the man who wore his signet ring—his trusted friend—had decreed his wife's death.

There are times when we think “it's time!” and we want to race ahead through the open door, but we've got to stay tuned in to God and go with God's timing, and often that means we need to wait and keep silent!

Never in our wait is God ever inactive. We've got to trust that if He asks us to wait, God is doing something! ~Beth Moore

Haman left that private banquet with the king and queen of Persia with such a fat head, he probably had a hard time fitting through the king's gate. But he fit. I wonder if seeing Mordecai sitting there, not even standing to his feet this time, helped Haman squeeze through that gate? Haman was so fixated on Mordecai that he was actually in bondage to Mordecai, instead of it being the other way around.

Make no mistake, we serve whatever masters us, and nothing masters us more completely than the person who refuses to bow to our rights, desires, or demands. We become fixated on the one from whom we cannot get what we want. ~Beth Moore

Haman went home, gathered his family and friends and spent the night partying and celebrating his greatness. When he remembered Mordecai, his wife and the others advised him to hang Mordecai high—to disgrace him even after he had been killed. That's pretty drastic for a quick fix! But those kind of fixes usually are.

Thank God Esther did not settle for a quick fix!

A paramount theme in Esther is what God can do when we resolve to obey and “if I perish I perish.” Any time He calls us to die, His purpose is to reveal larger life. ~Beth Moore

Have you resolved to obey God and if you perish you perish? 
Have I?
**Why do you think Esther invited Xerxes and Haman back for a second banquet?
**Are you so fixated on something that it's stealing your joy and holding you in bondage?
**Do you ever give people poor advice just to shut them up so you don't have to listen to them or to put an end to a situation?

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with Michelle Sutton

Welcome to Patterings, Michelle. Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
I had found Cynthia Rutledge on the internet and contacted her as a fan. She was my favorite Love Inspired author at the time. She wrote pretty hot and interesting inspirationals and told me how she got started. I thought if she could do it, so could I. But without God continuing to inspire me, I would have dropped out long ago. There are a lot of things to discourage authors in this world, so without God behind me (and my husband and kids) I'd be sunk.

Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite? Why?
Honestly, they are all fun in there own way. And like any mother, my latest baby is my favorite, but I love them all. So First Love is high on my list. It's edgy and risky regarding the topic and subject matter, but it's all from my heart.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Discouragement is definitely high on the list. I just call one of my writing buddies on the phone and ask them to tell me I don't suck as an author and to remind me why I am even doing this. They always have just the right words to say. I also read reviews people have written that are truly heart-felt. That always gives me more creative energy.

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?
Probably Tara, because she was a responsible and loving character who wanted to do the right thing but had a weakness for Josiah resulting from some past insecurities. She was so real I kept forgetting she was created in my imagination.

What is your strangest habit?
I don't know how strange this is but I usually read at least five books at the same time and I have books in every room in my house. I even have books at my office.

Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
When it comes to writing? Not really. I only write when I get the muse. If I force myself to do it then it is no longer enjoyable to me… Wait! I just thought of something. Paying taxes on my earnings. Yeah, I tend to drag my feet on that and wait until late March to send it in.

What would a perfect day for you look like?
Eating calorie free (but scrumptious) chocolate while writing the most amazing novel ever that was sure to hit the best-seller's list, and all of this to celebrate signing my latest six figure digit deal with a large publishing house. (You didn't say it had to be achievable, right? So my dream-fantasy is outlined above.)


Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I tend to favor historical romances over all others. I also enjoy contemporary romances. It just has to be original and fresh. Interesting is always good. Sizzlings gives it more weight. I am a romantic at heart, so it's hard to avoid favoring those types of books. However, I have been known to enjoy books that are not in any way romantic. They have to be really good, though, and hold my attention. Not an easy task…

Are there certain foods or snacks keeps the words flowing for you?
Not really, but water and coffee are always good. Plus, if I drink enough of them both I am forced to take occasional breaks and go to the bathroom, which is necessary to prevent me from getting so stiff I can't move after typing for hours on end.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
Redemption and forgiveness are my favorite themes. I like to wreck my characters' lives and then show how God binds their wounds and carries them through some of their hardest trials. When everything looks bleak, that's when God's love shines the brightest.

What lesson is the Lord teaching you right now or recently taught you?
That I need to write the stories He has inspired me to write without worrying about how to justify things if asked. Fortunately I haven't been challenged by people very much at all (no puritanical folks condemning me to hell for story content so far.) Also, not to worry about selling more books. God is taking care of me and I've got books releasing through 2012 so there is no rush. He is teaching me the beauty of patience.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
First Love releases in October 2010 (e-book)
Letting Go (Sheaf House) releases in Feb 2011
First Response releases in June 2011 (e-book)
Their Separate Ways releases in July 2011
Finding Love releases in Sept 2011
Keeping Promises releases in Feb 2012
Untitled releases in July 2012
Moving On releases in Sept 2012
Also, please check my website books page for current release dates.

You can purchase First Love from Amazon:



Michelle Sutton is giving away a copy of First Love. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment by Monday, November 1st and check back on Tuesday, November 2nd to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on this post and once on yesterday's spotlight with Michelle. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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meet Michelle Sutton

Michelle Sutton is an inspirational author who has written over a dozen novels. When she is not writing, she is working full time as a social worker.

She is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and an avid blogger/book reviewer the rest of the time.

Michelle is the wife of a wonderful man and the mother of two college students. She resides with her family in Arizona.

You can find Michelle online at her website www.michellesutton.net and her blog
www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com

First Love

Josiah and Tara had enjoyed acting in their high school plays. They had also been each other's first lover... in fact; most of the time they'd spent together had been in Tara's bed. When Josiah became a Christian, he left Tara to go to college and didn't look back.

Four years later, Josiah is back in town when his father has a near-fatal heart attack. When they meet up again they realize how much their separation had hurt each of them. But now Tara is a Christian and is trying to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Josiah wants Tara back, but neither knows how to relate to each other without the physical intimacy they once shared. They are determined to do things right this time, but find it more challenging than they'd anticipated.


Here's an excerpt of First Love:

She hated to spell it out for him, but it seemed necessary to prevent him from getting the wrong idea. "You're here for a haircut. Don't expect more."

Raising his hands in mock surrender, Josiah chuckled, "Whoa, there. I didn't mean anything by it, I swear."

"Good." Grabbing the black cloth to drape over his shirt, she flipped it open and then pointed to the chair. He sat and she tied it around his neck, a stress headache creeping into her head. Irritation shredded her nerves. Rather than sitting, he peered at her with an incredulous look in his eyes.

"Come on," she winced and touched her forehead. "I don't have much time."

"Aren't you gonna..." Josiah pointed at his hair and nodded toward the sink.

"No." She snapped the cloth again. "Just sit."

"But, that's the best part." Ruffling his hair with both hands, he sighed. "All right, but my hair is sweaty and dusty. I think it'll be easier to cut if it's clean first. I'll even pay you extra."

Did he think he could buy her forgiveness?

But he did have a point. Taking in the faint cloud of dust forming beside his head as he ruffled his hair, Tara sighed. She rolled her eyes and pointed at the sink with her elbow. "All right, all right. Just hurry up. I need to get home."

Josiah crept in slow steps and glanced over his shoulder. Tempted to push him along, she refrained, deciding the less hands-on contact she had with him the better. Maybe that was what he wanted. To get her riled. Well, it was working.

The sooner she cut his hair and sent him on his way, the sooner she'd have time to think about what his return to town might mean. While tempted to quit the acting group to avoid seeing him, she refused to run away. Besides, playacting the part of a socialite at special events in town was the only fun hobby she allowed herself. She refused to give up her only link to acting.

No, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of quitting. She'd keep playing the part and enjoy every minute of it. No man would take the fun out of her life ever again. Not even someone as devastatingly handsome and as important to her as Josiah had once been.

You can purchase First Love from Amazon:




Michelle Sutton is giving away a copy of First Love. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment by Monday, November 1st and check back on Tuesday, November 2nd to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on this post and once on tomorrow's interview with Michelle. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to U.S. addresses. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar, and purchasing, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale.

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AWOL

Did I ever mention that October is one of my busiest months? ay yi yi! It is! And this last weekend always takes the prize for the busiest weekend of the busiest month. That translates into no Esther post on Friday. *blush* I'll get it up for this coming Friday and just move on.

Thanks to several church kids, here's how October started out:

Let me tell you, these kids are expert TP'ers! And they've had a lot of practice! This was just part of our yard. Oh the joys of having a huge yard in the country. LoL.

This weekend we went to one of our favorite events of our year: Encampment. It's a reenactment of the French and Indian War days and we love it. This is our 9th year going and we've gotten to know the Peacocks, a musical group that plays period music. We spend a lot of time in the music tent enjoying them and visiting. The group is full of personality and we them. This year they brought along two of their friends, and they were great additions. My girls love harassing the man playing the fiddle, if that tells you anything about them. ;-)

So, there's my excuse for no Esther post, and a taste of what I've been doing. I did get two ideas for posts, which you'll be seeing later, so it was a productive time in a couple of different ways. ;-)

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Are You Glowing?

Fall has hit southern Illinois and the leaves are all changing color. It made me wonder how my leaves look when they turn. Am I a joyless brown? A mediocre mustard? I hope not! I want to be like the Sugar Maples--glowing with God in my life. It's made me stop and make some adjustments in what I'm doing so that I can have beautiful color in the season changes of my life.

~*~*~*~

In other news:
I'm posting today At the Well and I'd love to have you join me there for Beauty and the Beast!

And we have 3 book winners!
Carole is the winner of Trish Perry's book, The Perfect Blend.
Sunny has won DeAnna Dodson's book, Letters in the Attic, and
Joanne is the winner of Lena Nelson Dooley's book, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico.

~*~*~*~

Hey, there's a word I like in the fall... Golden. Golden is good in the fall. So are red and orange! Makes me want to drive down South Main and check out the Sugar Maples...


How about you? 
Are you doing what you need to so you glow beautifully when seasons in your life change?

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